Wales became one of the first countries in the world, and the first nation in the UK, to lower the default national speed limit on residential roads from 30mph to 20mph last September.

The Welsh Government said the change in speed limit was introduced to reduce collisions, save lives and reduce injuries. 

The move was met with backlash from residents, with more than 460,000 people signing a petition in opposition to the new 20mph speed limit.

The Welsh Government earlier this year announced it was making a U-turn on the 20mph decision and would allow local authorities to reinstate the original 30mph speed limit on roads where they saw fit.

In July 2024, the Welsh Government issued "revised guidance" to highway authorities to help them assess on which roads the speed limit could be raised back to 30mph. 

The Government said: "This guidance aims to assist highway authorities in making well-reasoned decisions about setting 30mph speed limits.

"It provides a framework for highway authorities in Wales (who are traffic authorities when regulating speed limits) to assess whether it is safe and appropriate to raise the speed limit to 30mph on restricted roads and other roads subject to a 20mph speed limit, while also accommodating local factors and circumstances."

Local authorities have been gathering feedback from their communities and will review the responses alongside the new guidance (from the Government) before making a decision on which roads will revert back to 30mph.

Councils can start applying for funding to revert roads back to 30mph from September 2024.

What roads are 20mph in North Wales?

DataMapWales has developed a map which shows all the roads in North Wales (as well as the rest of Wales) that have seen the speed limit reduced from 30mph to 20mph.

You can see the map on the DataMapWales website here.

It also shows roads that have been exempt from the change and retained the 30mph speed limit.

Speed cameras in North Wales monitoring 20mph speed limit

A list of "enforcement sites" has been revealed by GoSafe where mobile and fixed speed cameras will be in place to ensure motorists are keeping to the 20mph speed limit.

Sites where the 20mph speed limit will be enforced are based on where there has been evidence of road safety risk.

GoSafe considers enforcement where communities have raised concerns, collisions have occurred, or in areas where vulnerable road users and vehicles mix for example, near schools.

Seven common speed camera myths

The "enforcement sites" in North Wales where you will find speed cameras monitoring the new 20mph speed limit are:

Anglesey​

  • None

Conwy

  • Mochdre Infant School, Station Road, Mochdre
  • Ysgol Craig Y Don, Clarence Drive, Llandudno
  • Ysgol Tudno, Trinity Avenue, Llandudno
  • Ysgol y Gogarth, Nant-y-Gamar Road, Craig-y-Don
  • Ysgol San Sior, Church Lane, Llandudno
  • A5 - Betws y Coed Primary School, Pentre Du, Betws-y-Coed
  • Ysgol Morfa Rhianedd, Cwm Road, Llandudno
  • Ysgol Ty Gwyn Jones, Llanelian Road, Colwyn Bay
  • A470 - Llanrwst
  • Bryn Lupus Road, Llandudno
  • Ysgol Dyffryn yr Enfys, Dolgarrog

Denbighshire

  • A525 - Trefnant

Flintshire

  • Ysgol Teffynnon, Strand Walk, Holywell
  • Venerable Edward Morgan Catholic Primary School, Caernarvon Close, Shotton, Deeside 
  • Hawarden Road, Caergwrle
  • A5151 - London Road, Trelawnyd
  • B5122 - North Street, Caerwys

Gwynedd

  • B4417 - Ysgol Gynradd Nefyn, Nefyn, Gwynedd
  • A494 - Bala

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Wrexham

  • A539 - Penley Village
  • Ysgol Penycae Juniors, Copperas Hill, Penycae
  • Eyton Controlled Primary School, Bangor Road, Eyton
  • Borras Park Infant and Junior Schools, Borras Park Road
  • All Saints Aided School, B5373 Clappers Lane, Gresford
  • Acton Park School, Box Lane
  • Gwersyllt CP School, Dodds Lane, Gwersyllt 

There will also be a host of other 20mph speed cameras out and about in different locations each month - a map of which can be found on the GoSafe website.

The map will also show the location of all other mobile, fixed, red light, speed on green and average speed cameras active across Wales.