Research from UWE Bristol supports Welsh landmark road speed change
Research by a UWE Bristol academic has played a key role in the landmark speed change on Welsh roads, which came into effect on Sunday (17 September).
Wales is the first UK nation to reset the default speed limit for local roads.
Alan Tapp, Professor of Social Marketing at UWE Bristol, has worked alongside the Welsh Government to advise on the change, which has seen most 30mph speed limits in Wales turn to 20mph.
It is expected the move to slower speeds will make streets safer: reducing the number of people killed or injured and encouraging more walking and cycling. It has been described as the ‘biggest step-change in community safety in a generation’.
Prof Tapp primarily works on research relating to public opinion and behaviour change relating to travel and health including driver behaviour, car use, and physical activity including cycling.
He said: “There’s clearer evidence that 20mph limits not only save lives, but improves the experience of walking, cycling and living in residential areas overall.”
Bristol itself introduced 20mph limits in 2012, with further study from UWE Bristol public health academics in 2018 concluding that injuries from road traffic collisions had significantly reduced. The move has been implemented by other countries, including Spain, which changed the speed limit to a 30kmh on a majority of its roads in 2019. Since the change, Spain has reported 20% fewer urban road deaths, with fatalities reduced by 34% for cyclists and 24% of pedestrians.
Deputy Minister for Climate Change, with responsibility for transport, Lee Waters said: “It’s simple and we’ve seen it in many places, in Bristol, Edinburgh, Spain – slower speeds save lives and helps create safer communities for those that live there.
“Evidence shows that a vehicle travelling at 30mph will still be travelling at 24mph in the time it would take a car travelling 20mph to stop.”
Related news
03 February 2025
Groundbreaking UWE Bristol project based on children’s lived experiences of racism in the UK set to transform police training
UWE Bristol researchers have worked with over 1,000 primary-aged children to explore everyday experiences of racism to inform future police training.
30 January 2025
Women exercising in gyms face barriers including body image and harassment, study finds
Women exercising in gyms often feel judged for their appearance and performance, leading to a persistent sense of inadequacy, according to a new study.
22 January 2025
Can DIY greening solutions transform your street and combat climate change?
Do-it-yourself (DIY) greening kits could help safeguard the country's most vulnerable communities from the impacts of a rapidly changing environment, according to a new project supported by UWE Bristol.
14 January 2025
UWE Bristol secures British Council grant to strengthen educational ties with three leading Nigerian universities
UWE Bristol has secured a British Council Transnational Education (TNE) grant to work collaboratively with three of Nigeria’s foremost universities.
03 January 2025
Big leap forward for environmentally friendly ‘e-textiles’ technology
Research led by UWE Bristol and the University of Southampton has shown wearable electronic textiles (e-textiles) can be both sustainable and biodegradable.
19 December 2024
UWE Bristol academic appointed honorary professor at prestigious Danish university
A UWE Bristol researcher has been appointed an honorary professor at a prestigious university in Denmark.
18 December 2024
Opinion: Christmas… are you ‘totally sleighing it’ or wondering ‘what the elf’?
Could singing in a group bring a moment of calm and boost your mood this Christmas?
10 December 2024
ONS Research Excellence award win for UWE Bristol data research group
UWE Bristol’s Data Research, Access, and Governance Network (DRAGoN) has won the Organisational Excellence Award at the 2024 Office of National Statistics (ONS) Research Excellence Awards.
04 December 2024
UWE Bristol to lead £1.3 million project to evaluate the use of phone app to help with back pain
UWE Bristol will lead a £1.3 million project to evaluate the effectiveness of using an NHS-recommended smart phone app to help people suffering with low back pain.
28 November 2024
Work of UWE Bristol academics features in Government report on air quality measurement
Two UWE Bristol academics have made contributions to an influential Government report on the measurement of air pollution.
27 November 2024
Traffic noise reduces the stress-relieving benefits of listening to nature, study finds
Road traffic noise reduces the wellbeing benefits associated with spending time listening to nature, researchers have discovered.
22 November 2024
UWE Bristol professor unveils blue plaque honouring Bristol’s Cary Grant
Dr Charlotte Crofts joined Historic England to unveil a blue plaque celebrating the Hollywood star.
You may also be interested in
Media enquiries
Enquiries related to news releases and press and contacts for the media team.
Find an expert
Media contacts are invited to check out the vast range of subjects where UWE Bristol can offer up expert commentary.