Speed thresholds in the UK are usually 10 per cent higher than the speed limit, plus 2mph – so in England, the prosecution threshold for 20mph is 24mph.
Drivers in England given ‘allowance’ for driving over speed limit
As more and more 20mph speed limits are sweeping England, drivers have been given a new ‘allowance’ for driving over the speed limit. Speed thresholds in the UK are usually 10 per cent higher than the speed limit, plus 2mph – so in England, the prosecution threshold for 20mph is 24mph.
In Wales, the tolerance for 20mph is up to 26mph during a “transition period” for motorists in Wales. “We’ve got to make allowances for people who are trying to do the right thing and were fractionally over the limit,” a policeman told the BBC this week.
The 26mph threshold has been reviewed by GoSafe – a body made up of Wales’ 22 councils, four police forces and the Welsh Government.
READ MORE UK prescription rule change means households face £247 charge
“We’ll see how traffic is behaving, and if we see there’s an argument to bring it and those speeds down further in March, we will,” said Teresa Ciano of GoSafe, speaking to the Beeb.
Motoring lawyer Jonathan Wilkins says the difference in tolerance levels between Wales and England can “cause real confusion”.
But a cop spoke out to the Beeb and said: “The law is still 20mph regardless of whether it’s a 4mph or 6mph allowance.”
“There were nearly 100 deaths on Welsh roads every year, which is far too many,” said the chief inspector.
He went on: “We needed to change something to bring that number down. It’s early days but the number of collisions has reduced and where there were 35 fatalities in the South Wales Police force area last year, we’re roughly a third down year-on-year.
“That’s 11 or 12 less bereavements, 11 or 12 fewer families who haven’t had to go through the trauma of losing a loved one. There’s a significant change and shows slower speeds are safer. It’s a positive impact.”
The nationwide 20mph speed limit in residential areas was introduced on September 17, 2023 with drivers forced to adhere to slower speeds or pay the price.