Mark Drakeford says ‘genuinely confused’ drivers shouldn’t be fined for breaking 20mph law

08/01/2024

Wales’ First Minister has said drivers who are “genuinely confused” as to whether they are in an area covered by the default 20mph law shouldn’t be fined. He said police should instead educate drivers who can show genuine confusion and “not just a claim” they are confused. The Welsh Government [1] has said enforcement of its law will begin from today.

So far, the only fines for drivers exceeding the speed limit have been in the South Wales Police [2] force area. Figures obtained through the Freedom of Information Act show that 95 drivers were caught via fixed cameras and received penalties for speeds above 26mph. Two have been taken to court.

One driver was caught by police in Pontypridd [5] driving at 38mph. You can see those figures here.[6] Speaking at a press conference today, Mr Drakeford said: “I think if the police find somebody driving above 20mph, and the reason is they are genuinely confused about that… the police will always start with education and conversation. I don’t think in those circumstances of genuine confusion the police will move to enforcement. If there are examples, genuine examples, of people having misunderstood the piece of road they are on is now a 20mph limit then I think that will be resolved by the way the police intend to respond.

But it would need to be genuine confusion rather than just a claim to be confused.” Asked if every 20mph sign was in place, every speed camera was now on, and every force was able to fine those exceeding the limit, he replied: “Police forces are ready and have a plan. South Wales begins immediately, North Wales will follow.

I’ve nothing in front of me to suggest that the physical infrastructure needed to enforce the law isn’t in place.” We have asked the Welsh Government to confirm if Gwent and Dyfed Powys police forces are also in a position to begin enforcement. The law has already been in place in places where there was already a 20mph zone which pre-dated the new national law.

Mr Drakeford said a period of time has been given to bed it in. “Given the amount of attention paid to it it would be difficult for anybody to say by the end of last year they had never heard of it.,” he said. “Now we are moving into the next phase. It isn’t a hard enforcement phase, it continues to start with people being informed, educated and made aware of the change.

Where there are blatant and deliberate breaches of the law, just as there would be by people speeding over 30mph in a 30mph zone or over 70mph on the motorway, then we would all expect the law to be enforced and that’s what we would expect in Wales.”

References

^ Welsh Government (www.walesonline.co.uk)
^ South Wales Police (www.walesonline.co.uk)
^ Met Office issues weather warning for Wales as snow due today (www.walesonline.co.uk)
^ Woman bit part of victim’s nose off after meeting her on app (www.walesonline.co.uk)
^ Pontypridd (www.walesonline.co.uk)
^ You can see those figures here. (www.walesonline.co.uk)