30/08/2023
Following a wave of seizures and arrests across the country, Road Safety Wales would like to clarify the difference between electric bicycles, commonly known as e-bikes, and electric motorcycles, as these are vastly different modes of transport.
An e-bike is an electrically assisted pedal cycle (EAPC) which is equipped with an electric motor to assist a rider when they are pedalling. By law it cannot propel the rider on its own - if it does, it is classed as a motorcycle or moped.
To ride an e-bike, a person must be at least 14 years old. However, you do not need a driving licence and an e-bike does not need to be registered, taxed or insured.
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29/08/2023
As communities across Wales prepare for the introduction of a new 20mph speed limit on 17 September, Bridgend County Borough Council has revealed which local roads the authority believes should feature exemptions from the change.
Part of a Welsh Government initiative to improve road safety across Wales, the speed limit change is designed to reduce the likelihood of related collisions, injuries and fatalities on roads or portions of routes which currently carry a 30mph limit and are largely located within residential and built-up areas.
Lee Waters, Deputy Minister for Climate Change with responsibility for transport, said: "The evidence from around the world is very clear – reducing speed limits reduces collisions and saves lives. Slower speeds also help create a safer and more welcoming community, giving people the confidence to walk and cycle more, improving their health and wellbeing whilst protecting the environment."
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25/08/2023
Powys County Council highways staff are having to deal with increasing numbers of drivers jumping temporary red lights, ignoring stop signs, and speeding through road works.
Not only is this driving behaviour illegal, it is also putting the hardworking highways teams at risk of serious injury.
Cllr Jackie Charlton, Cabinet Member for a Greener Powys, said: "I was stunned to hear of the situations that our highways teams are placed in whilst simply doing their jobs and ensuring that the thousands of miles of roads in Powys are maintained, repaired and improved.
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17/08/2023
Torfaen County Borough Council has secured £420,000 Welsh Government active travel funding for the Oakfield Active Travel network scheme which will include 400 metres of new walking and cycling route to complement the new 180 metre long 3m wide shared use walking and cycling path which has been constructed from Court Farm Road Oakfield to the school along the edge of the recreation ground.
The council has also secured £50,000 Safer Routes in Communities funding to carry out an assessment of roads and streets outside all Torfaen schools. This will aim to identify opportunities to improve road safety, such as restricting vehicle access during school start and finish times.
Additional funding has also been awarded for smaller projects such as dropped kerbs, new bike racks and benches, and the identification and design of future projects.
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14/08/2023
Officers from across Gwent are taking part in a national road safety campaign targeting those who drive under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.
The campaign aims to raise awareness of the dangers of driving while under the influence, targeting those who choose to put other road users at risk by committing this offence.
Throughout the two-week campaign, officers will be carrying out increased patrols on our roads and will be stopping those who they believe to be driving under the influence.
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11/08/2023
Drones are being used by specially trained officers to help monitor, identify and if necessary prosecute road users that drive or ride dangerously at collision hot spots on the roads of Powys.
The Dyfed-Powys Police area has some of the most popular routes in the UK for drivers and motorcyclists, and in the summer it welcomes large numbers of road users into the force area to enjoy the stunning scenery.
Unfortunately, a small minority of riders and motorists continue to drive in a dangerous, reckless, or anti-social manner, which impacts on the safety of themselves and other road users.
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09/08/2023
“It’s simple, slower speeds save lives! Every year in Wales we see the devastating impacts road traffic collisions have on children and their families. They are the biggest single cause of serious injury in children who are typically walking or cycling.”
"Road traffic accidents are the largest cause of serious injury in children" says paediatric trauma leader at Wales’ children's hospital.
Those were the words from University Hospital of Wales’ Paediatric Emergency Consultant, Dr David Hanna. He was speaking to the Chief Medical Officer for Wales during a visit to the hospital, ahead of the introduction of a 20mph default speed limit on restricted roads across Wales from Sunday 17 September.
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07/08/2023
Caerphilly County Borough Council’s Cabinet recently approved those roads that will be ‘exceptions’ to the new legislation from Welsh Government reducing the default national speed limit from 30mph to 20mph on restricted roads.
The legislation will come into force across Wales on 17th September 2023. From that date, the maximum speed you can legally travel on restricted roads will be 20mph.
On some roads, a 20mph speed limit would not be appropriate. These roads will be known as exceptions, and the 30mph speed limit will remain.
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02/08/2023
From today (2 August 2023), motorists can opt for digital vehicle tax reminders rather than having to wait for a paper reminder to drop through their letter box. The change comes as part of DVLA’s new Driver and vehicles account service, which launches on GOV.UK today.
The new service, which allows motorists to easily access their driver and vehicle information in one place, has been launched as a public beta and DVLA are asking motorists to provide feedback to help develop the service.
The Driver and vehicles account is easy-to-use, secure, and it only takes around 5 minutes to sign up. Once an account has been set up, motorists can simply sign in using their email and password, and will be able to:
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01/08/2023
The Welsh Government has teamed up with police forces to help educate motorists ahead of the 20mph default speed limit roll out in September.
On Sunday, September 17th Wales will become the first UK nation to introduce a new default 20mph speed limit on restricted roads.
To prepare motorists for this significant change, the Welsh Government and the police are working with the fire service, GoSafe (the Wales Road Casualty Reduction Partnership), local authorities and other community groups to educate motorists.
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