Welsh motorists are being urged to cease counting on sat navs – here is why

Drivers in Wales are being urged to to not depend on sat nav gadgets when a nationwide pace restrict discount is launched on Sunday.

Most Welsh roads that at present have 30mph limits will change to 20mph – and the RAC has mentioned motorists ought to “pay full attention” to street indicators moderately than digital gadgets.

First Minister Mark Drakeford has mentioned the change will defend lives and cut back the pressure on the NHS in Wales – saving the nation’s well being service £92m a 12 months.

RAC head of coverage Simon Williams mentioned: “It’s vitally important that drivers are fully aware of the arrival of the 20mph limit in Wales, and pay full attention to all road signage.

“And, till sat nav programs have been totally up to date, they should not depend on them to know what the pace restrict is on any specific stretch of Welsh street.”

He added that compliance with 20mph limits is “quite poor” and argued that it will be “more effective to target areas where they are most needed” akin to residential roads or streets with excessive footfall.

“Even if compliance with new 20mph limits is poor, it should lead to an overall reduction in speeds which will have a positive effect on road safety,” Mr Williams mentioned.

Some of the brand new pace restrict indicators in areas akin to Conwy, Gwynedd, Newport, Torfaen, Wrexham and Flintshire have been defaced, in keeping with studies.

Meanwhile, the Welsh Conservatives, who’re towards the change, have highlighted authorities paperwork which estimate that elevated journey instances might price the nation’s financial system between £2.7bn and £8.9bn.

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Mr Drakeford has addressed considerations over how the brand new pace limits might be enforced.

“It is not a change that is being introduced in order to make life difficult for people and therefore the enforcement authorities will approach it in that way,” he mentioned.

“The approach will be a reasonable one in which we give people a chance to get used to the new regime.

“And then, because the police say, individuals who flagrantly and intentionally will not be ready to obey the foundations that everyone else might be following, then that might be a unique matter.”

The first minister has additionally insisted that there are a number of upsides to the lowered restrict.

“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 mentioned earlier this month.