The default speed limit in built up areas across Wales is set to be reduced to 20mph next year - and people feel very strongly about it. The Welsh Government says the law will make roads safer and well as benefitting the environment by encouraging people to cycle or walk.
Following a number of pilot schemes running throughout the country over the last few months, Senedd members voted with 39 in favour and 15 against on July 15. It means the law was passed and will come into force everywhere from September 2023.
But residents in Abergavenny, who have been part of the trial, are torn over whether or not the roll out is a positive move. Although many welcomed the speed reduction to make roads safer for children, others questioned whether the law could be properly enforced. Here's what locals had to say.
Read more: Wales becomes UK's first nation with 20mph default speed limit
Brinley Morris said the speed reduction in Abergavenny had been "driving us mad". The 77-year-old local said he noticed a number of motorists ignoring the 20mph speed limit and continuing to drive at the previous 30mph speed.
He said: "I think it's very bad. The side roads and near schools, I totally agree with that because I do take children back and fourth to school in a mini bus. But the main roads? No. There is no reason at all why they should be 20mph. At 30mph is a decent speed.
"They're doing it on what I would consider to be a main road and as a driver, you've got a job to do it at 20mph. Most drivers, at 25mph to 30mph, are doing the normal speed limit that they've always done."
Rod Morris was next to stop for a chat about the issue. The 71-year-old has only lived in Wales for the last four months after moving from a town in England which already has a 20mph rule. Although he agrees with the limit, he said he believed it was hard to police.
He said: "I agree with 20mph limits in all urban areas. My only problem with it is it doesn't seem to work. I've only recently moved to Wales. Prior to that I lived in Somerset in a little place called Rodney Stoke which had a 20mph speed limit and cars would regularly travel through Rodney Stoke at 30mph to 40mph. The police would occasionally put up speed cameras, but it didn't seem to make any difference.
"Although I agree with 20mph speed limits - I've got grandchildren, dogs and horses - it won't work unless it's enforced. There are areas around [Wales] where you've got 30mph speed limits and reducing that to 20mph on some of the long, straight stretches going into towns, I'm not sure it is going to be all that popular with people driving commercially."
Local man David Cole, 53, is wholly against the new law. He said in practice the speed reduction doesn't deliver on its promised benefits.
He said: "Honestly I think it's dangerous, unrealistic and doesn't do anything for the environment whatsoever. You are constantly looking at your speedometer rather than looking at the road to stay at 20mph and you constantly have cars right behind you.
"It doesn't make much difference day-to-day to my life going that slow, it's just the danger thing. It's supposed to be for safety and it actually has the opposite effect. I think it's a ridiculous idea.. I think you're going to have more accidents with people trying to overtake the people doing 20mph. It's happened to me on numerous occasions."
Cindy Rogers and daughter-in-law Victoria Wilkins said they could see the perks of a 20mph default speed limit as long as it's carried out properly. Cindy, 60, said: "There's a lot of mixed feedback from neighbours who have been talking about it. I'm indifferent to it. What I've got to remember is, especially coming in from Govilon to Abergavenny, it goes from 40mph to 20mph - that's a big jump. But if it's going to be introduced, it's got to be introduced so I'm happy to go along with it."
She said she thought the law will encourage more people to cycle, but that there may not be enough cycle lanes in some areas to accommodate for that. She said: "I would ride my bike if it was more safe. I have done it but I wish there was a separate lane because you do get cars behind you even at 20mph that are annoyed about you being on the road. I think it will encourage [bike riders], but I think the next step is that they need to provide cycle lanes then you would definitely encourage more people."
Victoria added how she would like to see more signage around to warn motorists about speed changes. She said: "There's some signage, but the first time I drove into Abergavenny, there wasn't a lot so I didn't even know it was 20mph. I think maybe a few people get caught up on it. Where I come from in New York in America, the lowest we have in residential areas is 25mph. I don't think people are going to like it."
Shirley Rogers said the speed limit was needed in certain areas to keep people safe. However, she said in other areas the rule was unnecessary.
The 68-year-old said: "I truly believe it is needed around the highly built up areas and near schools. We've got a lot of narrow streets where we are and people do race through them so that is perfect, but on other roads, I don't think it's necessary, 30mph was absolutely fine.
"The 20mph limit causes more congestion because people are going slower. It's harder on the vehicle because you're stuck in second gear so you're using up extra fuel. I don't think people will stick to it. In places like Newport there are cameras everywhere, but there aren't many cameras here. If you don't have cameras, how are you going to police it?"
Similarly, Ian Clease said "it's a good idea in the right place". The 71-year-old said: "In schools and streets where there are little children [it's a good idea] but to have it totally I think is silly. I live in Abertillery - what about a taxi driver who lives in Abertillery? He's going to be driving around at 20mph all day. I think that's a bit silly. Is he going to make a living if it's 20mph all day? It won't do his car a whole lot of good either.
"It's 20mph as you come in at the top end, but it's very difficult to go 20mph and there were a lot of people in front of me who didn't adhere to it at all. I think it's very hard to police and that a lot of people will ignore it. I don't think it will go down well."
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