GoSafe - 20mph

Following the re-introduction of wider enforcement in 20mph areas, new speeding concerns reported to GoSafe will consider Operation Ugain as an alternative to enforcement. In areas that aren’t suitable for Operation Ugain, alternative GoSafe operations will be considered, such as Community Speed Watch or referral to partner agencies such as Highways Authorities.

Operation Ugain uses speed monitoring equipment to identify people travelling over the speed limit, before police officers stop the vehicle and give the driver a choice between roadside engagement or points and a fine. While drivers will be offered the free engagement as an alternative, they can refuse, which will then result in prosecution.

For those exceeding the speed limit to a greater degree, they will not be eligible for an engagement session and will be prosecuted.

You can use the contact forms on our website to get in touch with the GoSafe team in your area.

No. There has been no change in the amount of enforcement we provide. There will be an increase in roadside engagement, as we work closely with our partners across Wales to engage with communities following the legislative change.

GoSafe apply the NPCC guidelines which outline the enforcement thresholds of not less than 10% plus 2mph.  While the public get used to the change in default limit, Chief Police Officers have allowed us to increase this to 10% plus 4mph in 20mph only, meaning we start to prosecute at 26mph in a 20mph limit.

The installation of speed calming measures, such as speed bumps, signage, or fixed cameras, falls under the remit of the local authority. We would kindly ask that you get in touch with your local authority for any request regarding these measures.

If you have witnessed dangerous or careless driving, you can submit photos and footage to Operation Snap on our website.

GoSafe enforce in the right place, at the right time, for the right reason. Enforcement locations are chosen based on collision data and safety concerns at each location. The legislative change applies to most 30mph roads across Wales.

Along with other partners such as Welsh Fire and Rescue Services, Local Authorities and Community Speed Watch groups, we are engaging with motorists and communities, to ensure the new speed limit is respected. Of course, we will continue to enforce, and run engagement sessions outside of schools.

No. Safety cameras are used to improve road safety, not for profit. All fine revenue is passed to His Majesty’s Treasury and is not used by GoSafe or local authorities. There is no incentive to enforce where we will detect a high number of offences.  Our most successful sites are where we detect no offences, because it means that there is the greatest amount of compliance, and therefore where roads are safer.

Speed limits in the Road Traffic Regulations and the Highway Code apply to motor vehicles only and not to bicycles. However, the Highway Code states that cyclists should be considerate of other road users.

The Welsh Government has provided £570,000 for additional 20mph roadside engagement through Operation Ugain in 2023/24. This is in addition to the regular grant from Welsh Government, which was £2,800,000 in 2023/24 and also for 2024/25 and covers all other GoSafe activity.  To continue to support the extra engagement being undertaken, the Welsh Government have indicated they will support the salary costs of the Operation Ugain teams in 2024/25, with the grant amount to be confirmed.

No. GoSafe's casualty reduction officers are trained to know the legal signage requirements.  Prior to starting enforcing, they complete multiple checks, including checking road signage. If the road signage is not appropriate, they will not enforce and will report it to the relevant Highway Authority to remedy.

We will consider enforcement where collisions have happened that resulted in someone being injured, communities have raised concerns, or in areas where vulnerable road users and vehicles mix e.g. near schools or community facilities.

Enforcement in existing 20mph areas was reintroduced at the beginning of November. This was only in 20mph enforcement locations that weren’t affected by the legislation change and had the correct signage in place.

A map showing all enforcement sites is available here.

We have continued to review driver behaviour and the response to the change in default speed limit, whilst engaging with communities across Wales with Operation Ugain.

The public requests for enforcement in their communities are being assessed using our enforcement criteria and where appropriate, enforcement sites will be established where there is evidence of road safety risk.

As is the case with all sites, they are brought on periodically throughout the year when data is assessed and following liaison with the local authorities.

We publish a map containing all of our possible enforcement locations here. Our casualty reduction officers may be working at any of these locations, however, you should never drive faster than the posted speed limit.  There is no restriction on where police officers can enforce speeding.

Remember, in built up areas if you see streetlights think 20mph, unless signed otherwise. More information is available at  Introducing 20mph speed limits: frequently asked questions | GOV.WALES

Fixed cameras are installed where the risk of a fatal or serious collision is highest. The risk in 20mph areas with fixed cameras has been, or will be, re-evaluated and these cameras have been adjusted to enforce the 20mph limit.

Advice letters are being issued for the first 4 weeks following the activation of a fixed camera. The details of cameras being activated will be communicated in advance through the GoSafe website and partner social media channels. 

You can see a list of the fixed cameras on the map.

We recognise that most people want to comply with the speed limit in their communities.  However, if they were unaware of what the speed limit was, they may be regularly passing a fixed camera unknowingly breaking the law and be at risk of losing their licence by doing so. 

By offering advice letters for fixed camera, this allows us to engage first and inform the public of the correct speed limit.  This will only be offered once and will not be repeated.

By doing this, we are supporting our aim of achieving compliance with the speed limit for safety reasons, and only using enforcement as a last resort.

Road Safety practitioners have traditionally used the “4E” methods to improve road safety: Engineering, Education, Engagement and Enforcement.  Enforcement is always the last option.

This combination has always been used by the partnership. Engagement is always prioritised to support behaviour change. Enforcement is used when it is justified and where engagement is not appropriate.

Enforcement is always done in the right place, at the right time, for the right reason, to make our roads safer.

As GoSafe coordinate Operation Ugain on behalf of police and the fire and rescue services in Wales, we can ensure that engagement takes place as a priority and in conjunction with GoSafe vans.

The Welsh Government have established an independent panel to review the exceptions criteria for highways authorities when deciding whether or not the speed limit on a road should be 20mph. This review process may result in Local Highways Authorities reviewing the speed limit on some roads.

We are working closely with our partners in Local Authorities across Wales to ensure that we avoid establishing enforcement sites on roads that are likely to be reviewed.

More information on the review can be found at 20mph default speed limit review of exceptions | GOV.WALES

We don’t set speed limits and only enforce in areas where speeding is a concern, where there is a history of road casualties, or in areas surrounding schools or road works. This applies to all speed limits.

If you’d like to discuss changing the speed limit on a road, we would kindly ask that you contact your Local Highways Authority who are responsible for setting the limits.

You can see more information about setting local speed limits in Wales.

For your own safety and to comply with the law, you must be able to drive your vehicle safely, react to potential hazards and obey mandatory traffic signs at all times. If traffic signs are not appropriate and could cause any confusion for drivers, GoSafe will not be enforcing in the area.

Remember, in built up areas if you see streetlights think 20mph, unless signed otherwise. More information is available at  Introducing 20mph speed limits: frequently asked questions | GOV.WALES