During routine enforcement of Wales’ 20mph default speed limit, more than 100,000 drivers have been caught exceeding the restricted speed. The latest data released includes statistics for February and March of this year, bringing the total number of recorded offences to 112,906. The enforcement measures, initiated in November 2023 across mid and south Wales and in March in north Wales, have led to revelations of the highest recorded speed of 89mph in January 2025 in north Wales. These figures are provided by GoSafe, highlighting the number of offences each month, average speeds, and the highest speeds recorded.
In a detailed breakdown of the data, it shows a promising decrease in the number of drivers caught breaking the speed limit in mid and south Wales for the second consecutive month. However, the trend is starkly different in north Wales, where the numbers are on a steep incline. The figures for January 2025 report 5,915 offenders, decreasing to 5,671 in February and significantly dropping to 4,128 in March. Even though the highest recorded speeds reduced to 69mph and 62mph in February and March respectively, these speeds are still well above the legal limit, with average speeds around 28.5mph.
Contrastingly, in north Wales, the highest recorded speeds were lower, averaging at 55mph in February and 58mph in March. Despite lower speeds, the number of offences rose by around 1,000 in the two months following January. The implementation of Operation Ugain, a collaboration between GoSafe, Welsh Fire and Rescue Services, and other agencies, involves monitoring driver speeds and providing roadside engagement sessions to those exceeding the limit.
Statistics from Operation Ugain indicate that out of 342,852 vehicles monitored, approximately 4% were found to be speeding, resulting in 14,653 drivers being offered the engagement course and 105 prosecutions between January 2024 and January 2025. As enforcement efforts continue, questions have been raised regarding the variations in offence rates between regions. Authorities are yet to provide explanations for the decline in offences in some areas and the rise in others but remain vigilant in their efforts to ensure road safety.
With the Welsh Government and GoSafe at the helm of these initiatives, the focus remains on educating drivers about the importance of adhering to speed limits and promoting responsible driving behaviour. By combining enforcement measures with educational sessions, the aim is to reduce the number of speeding incidents and create a safer road environment for all. As developments unfold, continued monitoring and evaluation of these efforts will be crucial in shaping future road safety strategies in Wales.
In a bid to further enhance road safety, the collaboration between enforcement agencies, local authorities, and community engagement initiatives play a pivotal role in achieving the overarching goal of ensuring safer roads for all road users across Wales. The ongoing commitment to addressing speeding offences and promoting responsible driving reflects a collective effort to create a culture of compliance with speed limits and enhance overall road safety standards.