A major authority has successfully returned roads to 30mph from 20mph for the first time in more than two years, with drivers now advised to follow the new speed limits.
Wrexham County Borough Council officially restored 30mph speed limits on dozens of roads, becoming the first authority in Wales to roll back Labour's deeply unpopular 20mph scheme.
The controversial law, which was introduced in September 2023, meant that most roads in Wales had a lower speed limit.
It aimed to save lives and reduce accidents, but the policy sparked furious backlash from drivers, businesses and residents who said it caused chaos on the roads, with critics branding it "a war on motorists".
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Drivers have been reminded to follow the new 30mph speed limit in place across several Wrexham roads
| PA/GETTYAfter months of consultation, councillors in Wrexham acted and became the first authority to increase speed limits back up to 30mph.
The changes came into force on the B5605 Wrexham Road/High Street in Johnstown and the A525 Bryn-Y-Grog Road, with a total of 52 stretches of road set to return to 30mph.
The authority is now reminding drivers to stick to the new speed limit, with Councillor David Bithell stating: "Now all the signage is in place, we want to do everything we can to ensure drivers stick to the new speed limits.
"We get lots of complaints about speeding from our communities, and hopefully the changes made will address concerns raised in the consultation."
A map of 20mph speed limits currently in place in Wales
| GOV.WALESMr Bithell added that the council had already been working with North Wales Police and the GoSafe partnership to ensure drivers travel at 30mph.
Under UK law, drivers can be fined £100 for speeding as well as given three penalty points on their driving licence for the offence.
If taken to court, drivers risk prison sentences and a maximum fine of £2,500 if the event occurred on the motorway.
The removal of the 20mph limits followed pressure from within the Welsh Government itself. In May 2024, Transport Minister Ken Skates admitted the rollout of 20mph limits needed to be reviewed.
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He said councils would be allowed to restore 30mph "where safe and appropriate", following a systematic review of the road network.
Speaking at the time, Mr Skates said: "The principal objective of the policy was to save lives and reduce casualties, and we know there is widespread evidence it does that.
"However, this was about getting the right speeds on the right roads, building from the broad consensus that 20mph is right where people live, work and play."
He praised Wrexham's approach, adding that the review "recognised the need for balance between safety concerns and the potential benefits of higher speeds on key strategic or main roads".
Wrexham has become the first authority in Wales to reverse speed limits back to 30mph | GETTYResidents across Wrexham have also welcomed the change, with many arguing that it shows politicians can be forced to listen.
One local driver shared on Facebook that it felt like "we were being punished for just getting to work or taking our kids to school". He said that bringing back 30mph "is just common sense", adding that it's what "people wanted all along".
Mr Bithell concluded: "We've listened to our communities and successfully reverted 52 stretches of highway back from 20mph to 30mph.
"This was all done in accordance with revised criteria from the Welsh Government, which fully funded all the works."