Plans to use Fire and Rescue Service in enforcement roles for 20 MPH branded ‘ludicrous’

Plans to involve the Fire and Rescue Service in enforcement roles on the new 20mph law have been branded ‘ludicrous’ by the Welsh Conservatives.

On Sunday, September 17 Wales will become the first UK nation to introduce a new default 20mph speed limit on restricted roads. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

To prepare motorists for this change, the Welsh Government and the police are working with the fire service, Go Safe (Wales’ Road Casualty Reduction Partnership), local authorities and other community groups to educate motorists. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

On Monday the Welsh Government announced that at roadsides across Wales, fire service staff “will work with partners” to stop speeding motorists in 20mph areas and “offer them the opportunity to watch an educational video rather than face a fine or prosecution.”

The video warns about the dangers of excessive speeds and highlights the benefits of slower speed. It is only offered to those motorists not driving excessively over the speed limit.

The ‘opportunity’ to watch a video “… is only offered to those motorists not driving excessively over the speed limit”. What that means was not defined.

However news that the Fire and Rescue Service will be involved in enforcement roles has been branded “ludicrous” by the Welsh Conservatives, who have opposed the introduction of the blanked 20mph speed limit.

Welsh Conservative Shadow Minister for Transport, Natasha Asghar MS has slammed the move: “I cannot believe that this madcap policy from the Labour Government is now pulling in members of the fire service to enforce the blanket 20mph speed limit change, spreading a stretched public service even thinner.

“Labour’s 20mph speed limits will cost over £30m to implement and will cost the Welsh economy a whopping £4.5bn.

“The loss to the Welsh economy is an astounding amount that we cannot afford to write off as a result of this foolish policy.

“Could the use of speeding fines be a stealth tax that recoups a portion of these cos

“The priorities of our fire service should not include catching motorists speeding, the Labour Government are showing that this foolish policy is not about safety or the environment, as they have claimed, but using public services to catch out motorists and collect money in fines.

“What service will they fold into it next, paramedics? The Labour Government should listen to Welsh Conservative calls and scrap this ludicrous policy.”

During a visit to Wrexham last Friday, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak told our sister site, Deeside.com, that implementing a blanket 20mph speed limit across Wales was not the right thing to do. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“It’s always going to be fitting in particular areas to have lower speeds, for instance, near schoolchildren,” said the prime minister.

“I think everyone would agree that from a safety perspective, this makes sense.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​ ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

However, the Prime Minister stated: “I think a blanket reduction to 20 miles an hour doesn’t make sense.​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​ ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌

“It [will] just add cost and complexity, it will cause people to make that adjustment and just get in the way of their ordinary lives.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​ ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

He said the speed limit reduction “in a blanket fashion like that is not appropriate.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​ ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The Welsh Government has introduced ‘exceptions criteria’, which allow local councils some flexibility to retain 30mph speed limits, where appropriate, on some restricted roads, providing that the criteria are met. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​ ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

To claim an ‘exception’ for a restricted road, local councils must present a clear and reasoned case for doing so, demonstrating that robust evidence exists that retaining a higher speed limit would be safe. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​ ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Supt Leanne Brustad, Gwent Police said: “Engagement, education, and enforcement plays a huge part in the rollout.

“We will continue to work closely with our partners to educate drivers as much as possible as the new speed limit comes into force and help deliver all of the benefits of this policy.”

South Wales Fire and Rescue Service, Group Manager Richie Smart said: “Our fire fighters see the devastating impacts that road traffic collisions, including those in built up areas where people and vehicles mix closely, can have.

“We are therefore pleased to support our partners to raise awareness of the importance of speed limits to keep everyone safe.”

Motorists seeking information on exempt roads within the Wrexham Council area or other local regions are advised to contact their local council or reach out to their respective councillors