Welsh Government announces Fire Service to stop motorists exceeding new 20mph limits

In a statement, the Welsh Government announced that Police forces across Wales will be working with Fire Service, Go Safe and local authority partners to educate motorists ahead of the controversial speed limit reduction.

From the new 20mph limit’s introduction on Sunday 17 September, 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 of prosecution.

The video warns about the dangers of excessive speeds and highlights the benefits of slower speed.

Supt Leanne Brustad of 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.” 

The proposed 20mph limits on restricted roads has been a controversial decision by Welsh Government, with critics calling out the cost of implementing the scheme.

Welsh Conservative Shadow Minister for Transport, Natasha Asghar MS said: “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 costs?

“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.”