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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| More 20mph speed zones encouraged | More 20mph speed zones encouraged |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| More 20mph speed limit zones should be set up around schools and built up areas, new guidance issued to councils in Wales suggests. | More 20mph speed limit zones should be set up around schools and built up areas, new guidance issued to councils in Wales suggests. |
| The assembly government guidance will also look at crash rates on rural roads to see if limits there should be cut. | The assembly government guidance will also look at crash rates on rural roads to see if limits there should be cut. |
| Some road safety campaigners want ministers to go further and establish compulsory 20mph zones near schools. | Some road safety campaigners want ministers to go further and establish compulsory 20mph zones near schools. |
| But a group representing motorists said they devalued speed limits and claimed few people obeyed them. | |
| Transport Minister Ieuan Wyn Jones said local speed limits were a "crucial tool" in improving road safety and reducing casualties. | Transport Minister Ieuan Wyn Jones said local speed limits were a "crucial tool" in improving road safety and reducing casualties. |
| The assembly government is responsible for determining speed limits on motorways and trunk roads, while local authorities set them on the minor road network. | The assembly government is responsible for determining speed limits on motorways and trunk roads, while local authorities set them on the minor road network. |
| Speed limits play a fundamental role in effective speed management to encourage, help and require road users to adopt appropriate and safe speeds Transport Minister Ieuan Wyn Jones | Speed limits play a fundamental role in effective speed management to encourage, help and require road users to adopt appropriate and safe speeds Transport Minister Ieuan Wyn Jones |
| "Speed limits play a fundamental role in effective speed management to encourage, help and require road users to adopt appropriate and safe speeds," said Mr Jones. | "Speed limits play a fundamental role in effective speed management to encourage, help and require road users to adopt appropriate and safe speeds," said Mr Jones. |
| He said it was important councils and the police worked together in considering any changes to speed limits. | He said it was important councils and the police worked together in considering any changes to speed limits. |
| He said there should also be consistency, especially where roads crossed county boundaries. | He said there should also be consistency, especially where roads crossed county boundaries. |
| Mr Jones said increasing the use of 20mph limits across Wales was a commitment in One Wales, the coalition agreement between Labour and Plaid Cymru. | Mr Jones said increasing the use of 20mph limits across Wales was a commitment in One Wales, the coalition agreement between Labour and Plaid Cymru. |
| Currently there are 481 20mph limits or zones in Wales which have risen steadily in the recent years after assembly government funding. | Currently there are 481 20mph limits or zones in Wales which have risen steadily in the recent years after assembly government funding. |
| Mr Jones said: "Studies have shown that 20mph schemes can improve safety and we would encourage local authorities to consider implementing more of these where appropriate." | Mr Jones said: "Studies have shown that 20mph schemes can improve safety and we would encourage local authorities to consider implementing more of these where appropriate." |
| The guidelines are being published in advance of a new national road safety strategy. | The guidelines are being published in advance of a new national road safety strategy. |
| This will incorporate casualty reduction targets for beyond 2010 and may be accompanied by additional speed management advice. | This will incorporate casualty reduction targets for beyond 2010 and may be accompanied by additional speed management advice. |
| There's no point in having speed limits that nobody is going to obey - it's altogether nonsensical Association of British Drivers | There's no point in having speed limits that nobody is going to obey - it's altogether nonsensical Association of British Drivers |
| Andrew Farina-Childs, a founder of the S20S campaign which has called on the assembly government to force local authorities to establish 20mph limits around all schools, said such a zone was in the process of being established around his local school, Blackwood Comprehensive in Caerphilly county. | Andrew Farina-Childs, a founder of the S20S campaign which has called on the assembly government to force local authorities to establish 20mph limits around all schools, said such a zone was in the process of being established around his local school, Blackwood Comprehensive in Caerphilly county. |
| Police patrols | Police patrols |
| Mr Farina-Childs said there was no question that it had proved effective in slowing down traffic. | Mr Farina-Childs said there was no question that it had proved effective in slowing down traffic. |
| "It's far safer for the children and the traffic is adhering to the new speed limit," he said. | "It's far safer for the children and the traffic is adhering to the new speed limit," he said. |
| But the Association of British Drivers claimed 20mph zones "devalued" speed limits. | But the Association of British Drivers claimed 20mph zones "devalued" speed limits. |
| "There's no point in having speed limits that nobody is going to obey - it's altogether nonsensical," said a spokesman. | "There's no point in having speed limits that nobody is going to obey - it's altogether nonsensical," said a spokesman. |
| "We are adamant that we need to improve the safety of our roads but you don't do that by penalising people for driving above some number on a sign on the side of a road. | "We are adamant that we need to improve the safety of our roads but you don't do that by penalising people for driving above some number on a sign on the side of a road. |
| "We want to get away from what speed people are driving at and focus on how people are driving." | "We want to get away from what speed people are driving at and focus on how people are driving." |
| He said governments should fund more police patrols and introduce stiffer penalties for people driving under the influence of drink or drugs or without insurance. | He said governments should fund more police patrols and introduce stiffer penalties for people driving under the influence of drink or drugs or without insurance. |