The national speed limit on roads in built-up areas across Wales is to be reduced from 30mph to 20mph by 2023.

The Welsh Government has announced, based on the recommendations from the Welsh 20mph Task Force Group, the automatic 30mph speed limit on restricted roads is to be lowered to 20mph.

Restricted roads are roads in a built-up area and are identified by the presence of street lights.

A Welsh Government spokesperson said: “The report recommends turning the current Traffic Regulation Orders process on its head.

“Instead of the default speed limit being 30mph, with communities needing to make the case to go lower, the default speed limit will become 20mph, with a case needing to be made to go higher.

“Crucially it will be for communities, and local authorities, to decide which roads should remain at 30mph.”

The Welsh 20mph Task Force Group was launched by Deputy Minister for Economy and Transport Lee Waters in May 2019 and collated a report investigating the premise that 20mph should be the default limit for restricted roads.

The taskforce’s year-long study, which was made up by police, local authorities, public health experts and other key partners such as road safety groups, makes 21 practical recommendations for implementation of the change across Wales.

The Deputy Minister for Economy and Transport Lee Waters said: “80 children were killed or seriously injured in Wales in the last year for which we have figures. That’s 80 families whose lives will never be the same again.

“Whilst we have made progress on reducing deaths on our roads in the 21 years of devolution, despite our considerable efforts, there are still 4,000 accidents which result in injuries every year in Wales.

“The evidence is clear, reducing speed reduces accidents. It saves lives. Slower speeds in our communities improves quality of life too.

“According to the British Crime Survey, speeding traffic was rated as the most serious anti-social problem.

“Furthermore, fear of traffic tops the list of parent worries, with children kept closer to home, reducing their independence, and leading to the vicious spiral of increased danger, as more people drive their children to school. This, in turn, amplifies health inequalities.”