E 86 /85 DRIVERS WARNING FROM WALES

[TOMGREEN413]

Okay, so this could have been posted in the Lounge section of the forum but I figured more drivers will see this post here. A close friend of mine recently attended a speed awareness course here in Wales and was given information from the instructor running the course as follows.
From the 1st January 2024 the 20 mph speed limit is going to be rigorously policed using GREY low visibility scam vans and trained local village residents using hand held speed guns. For anyone living outside Wales I can tell you that at least 80% of drivers have been ignoring this 20 mph nonsense since it began but apparently the "acclimatisation period " is over in the new year.......so just a heads up and warning to all.
Perhaps like myself you have been lucky enough to find a large oak leaf has miraculously got stuck to your front n rear number plate

[TOMGREEN413]

As a follow on it was my understanding that if a scam van wasn't clearly marked this could be deemed a for of entrapment?

[Umfaan]

Thank God that the Idiot in charge has resigned..Drakford

[CliveN]

I live in England but three miles from Chepstow. I used to go into mid wales for drives and shop in Cardiff. I will now no longer go into wales but will go to Cheltenham and drives in Herefordshire. I will have to go into Chepstow for shopping and to get across the bridge but that’s it now as far as I am concerned. Drakeford means Wales will lose my cash.

[axelleveau]

Funny how they lower limit from 30-40 to 20 as people drive too fast, then enforce the 20 hard... would be making everyone happier if they were enforcing for the people using the road like a racetrack when it was 30-40 before...
This way we would not move at snail speed, hit bumps all over the place and be in fear of daring to get 4th gear in

[Rockhopper]

Its not entrapment, no one is forcing drivers to break the speed limit. Speed camera vans, cameras, unmarked cars (!!) etc do not need to be distinctively marked or anything but some Police forces choose to do so. There is no law to say they must be marked.

[Unitedleeds1919]

It sounds a lot of fun, is this just in towns, villages, and cities? Old 30 or 40 limits now 20? But old 50+ limits stay the same?
Sounds bonkers as a strict 30 surely is ok

[Unitedleeds1919]

Its not entrapment, no one is forcing drivers to break the speed limit. Speed camera vans, cameras, unmarked cars (!!) etc do not need to be distinctively marked or anything but some Police forces choose to do so. There is no law to say they must be marked.

I do have to agree as a speed limit is well marked and drivers choice to break it

[MikeyH]

It’s very difficult when we are used to everywhere with street lights being 30mph unless signed otherwise to now having a mix of 20 and 30mph. As I said on another thread when I was in South Wales recently I didn’t take any chances and kept to 20 mph everywhere. Also it was easier at that speed negotiating Newport.

[Silverstar]

The simple solution but maybe not possible for everyone is don’t go to wales and if you live there move out. Soon the coffers at the town hall will run dry and they will have to reverse this draconian decision which now that the idiot who put it in place has left should be done anyway! Alternatively not condoning breaking any laws but there is always this:

https://www.stealthplate.co.uk/

[1536Z4]

We live about a mile away from the Welsh border and my other half regularly rides her " Gravel " bike on routes which include roads into Wales so will be interesting to see if she get done for speeding .

[MikeyH]

I have Welsh relations living in Wales and they seem to be resigned to it. I've always loved Wales and the people and had I not been tied to Devon due to work and family I would have loved to move there. Not any more! I think that the summer trade will drop off due to this once word gets around re fines etc and we will be lumbered with even more f'ing grockles in Devon and Cornwall

[smorris_12]

I go to Cardiff a lot and some of the new 20s are on bits of road that were previously 30s but were actually constructed to the rules of 40+ - high level/multiple traffic light heads, certain width of carriageway, pedestrian barriers, etc. It feels the same as walking along with your shoelaces tied together.

From listening to local radio, we seem to be beset by an endless array of little pressure groups with an unbelievably narrow focus on their pet hate with no grasp of anything approaching a bigger picture. Now that they've all but squashed smoking out of existence (and I've never smoked) somewhere there'll be a bunch of nylon haired nitwits with a beady eye on that bottle of wine you had last week deciding that 750ml is more than enough to last a month.

[MikeyH]

I go to Cardiff a lot and some of the new 20s are on bits of road that were previously 30s but were actually constructed to the rules of 40+ - high level/multiple traffic light heads, certain width of carriageway, pedestrian barriers, etc. It feels the same as walking along with your shoelaces tied together.

From listening to local radio, we seem to be beset by an endless array of little pressure groups with an unbelievably narrow focus on their pet hate with no grasp of anything approaching a bigger picture. Now that they've all but squashed smoking out of existence (and I've never smoked) somewhere there'll be a bunch of nylon haired nitwits with a beady eye on that bottle of wine you had last week deciding that 750ml is more than enough to last a month.

God I hope not

[TOMGREEN413]

Let's face it, it's about control and money making.