Wales’s first minister has insisted that the country’s new default 20mph speed limit will save lives.

From 17 September, most residential roads which are currently limited to 30mph, will have a reduced speed limit of 20mph.

Wales is the first UK nation to lower the default limit from 30mph, although many areas in other parts of the UK have also introduced a 20mph limit in residential areas.

The Welsh government hopes road traffic collisions will be reduced after the law change, making communities safer.

A police chief recently admitted in a leaked email the change would have an “impact” on the work of emergency services.

First Minister Mark Drakeford will visit St Brides Major in the Vale of Glamorgan on Thursday – one of the areas where the scheme was trialled.

Mr Drakeford said communities likes this one would be “better places to live” after the change.

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“It will help make our streets quieter, reducing noise pollution, and slower speeds will give more people the confidence to cycle and walk around their local areas and encourage children to play outdoors,” he said.

“Evidence from around the world is clear – reducing speed limits reduces collisions and saves lives.”

The Spanish government introduced a speed limit of 30km/h (18.6mph) on roads with a single lane in each direction in May 2021.

Spain’s directorate-general for traffic said the risk of death in a road traffic collision is 80 percentage points lower if the speed of the impacting vehicle is 30km/h, compared with 50km/h.

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Fire service staff to help enforce new default 20mph limit

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Last year, a report suggested reducing the speed limit in built-up areas to 20mph does not significantly improve safety.

The plans in Wales have faced criticism from some quarters, including the largest opposition party in the Senedd.

The Welsh Conservatives have called on the Labour government’s “madcap” policy to be reversed.

Shadow transport minister, Natasha Asghar, claimed there were “intense levels of dissatisfaction” to the “tone-deaf” blanket rollout.

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