More than 85,000 people exceeded the 20mph speed limit on Welsh roads last year, according to new data.
The figures from GoSafe, the road safety partnership, show that the majority of the offences (48,551) took place in Mid and South Wales.
The default speed limit in Wales’s built-up areas was reduced from 30mph to 20mph in September 2023.
August was the month which saw the highest number of speeding offences on 20mph roads, with 15,284 breaches recorded across Wales.
The Welsh government said the change in speed limit would reduce serious collisions and save lives, pointing to international evidence where the limit was reduced, such as in Spain.
In the first quarter of 2024, there were 316 road collisions on 20 and 30mph roads in Wales – 25% lower than for the same period in 2023, according to Welsh government figures.
Other parts of the UK have also introduced a similar change. In 2020, Glasgow City Council voted to cut the speed limit on its residential streets. In London, a number of major roads have also seen a 20mph limit introduced.
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The policy faced significant opposition from some quarters in Wales, including a record-breaking petition on the Senedd‘s website.
Politicians in Cardiff Bay said they received “threatening” messages over their stance on the rollout.
But last month, the Welsh government won an international road safety award for introducing the policy.
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Last April, a review of the default speed limit was announced and the Welsh government later published revised guidance for local councils.
Announcing the review, transport minister Ken Skates said he was working to get “the right speed on the right roads”.
Councils then asked the public to have their say, with some roads that were previously 30mph switching back from September.
