Welsh government ministers are set to amend their controversial policy of default 20mph limits in an effort to compromise with critics.
Last September, Wales became the first country in the UK to reduce default speed limits in built-up areas from 30mph to 20mph in a move intended to save around 10 lives a year.
Although the country’s 23 highway authorities were asked to consider which roads should remain at 30mph, the percentage of Welsh roads with a 20mph limit increased from around 2.5% to around 35%.
Ken Skates, who returned as transport minister under new first minister Vaughan Gething, suggested that changes to guidance could see many roads revert to 30mph.
He told North Wales Live: ‘There will be change that addresses the concerns that a lot of people, including half a million people who signed the petition, raised on a consistent basis.
‘These are that there is generally universal support for 20mph being targeted in areas where there are schools, built up areas like housing estates, and outside hospitals and so-forth but in many areas routes that shouldn't have been included, were.’
He added: ‘We've put our hands up to say the guidance has to be corrected. This will enable councils to revert back those routes that are not appropriate. Whether the change will be radical will largely depend on what people want.’
Mr Skates is expected to give further details on the changes in a statement to the Senedd on Tuesday afternoon.
On Sunday, economy minister Jeremy Miles, who narrowly lost a leadership contest to Mr Gething, pointed out that the policy was a manifesto commitment for the Labour administration.
He told BBC Politics Wales: ‘It’s a clear policy and we are not changing that policy.’
