30/01/2025
The Welsh Government's data shows around 100 fewer people killed or seriously injured on roads with 20mph and 30mph road speed limits in the 12 month period after the introduction of the 20mph default speed limit, compared to the same period a year before.
During the 12-month period from 2023 Q4 to 2024 Q3 (i.e. after the introduction of the 20mph default speed limit), the number of casualties on 20mph and 30mph roads (combined) is 28% lower than the same period a year previous.
Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales Ken Skates said: “The data published today provides information for the first full year since the 20mph default speed limit was introduced.
Read More >
29/01/2025
Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council will begin a Resilient Roads scheme at the A4058 at Dinas, to reduce the risk of surface water flooding in heavy rainfall. It will increase the road’s drainage capacity to intercept and convey rainwater away from the road, while reducing the risk of flooding to the local community.
The scheme, from the week commencing Monday, February 3, will aim to tackle a known issue of surface water accumulations where Cymmer Road (A4058) meets Appletree Road, with several flooding incidents having impacted 11 properties since 2012. The scheme has received a 90% contribution from Welsh Government’s Resilient Roads Grant and will be completed by the end of March 2025.
The scheme will install additional gullies along the A4058 and divert the highway drainage through a new carrier line, down Appletree Road, where it will connect with a separate carrier line that discharges to the River Rhondda. Furthermore, these works will reduce the risk of flooding to the nearby Welsh Water combined sewer, by disconnecting the highway drainage along the A4058. This will increase the resilience of the sewer network in the local area.
Read More >
27/01/2025
A consultation will be launched on plans to introduce a non-vehicular link between Johnston and Milford Haven with Steynton to Old Bulford Road Active Travel improvements, Pembrokeshire County Council has reported.
Proposals include the construction of a shared use path forming a connection from the Neyland Road crossroad heading North along the A4076 where it will divert towards the C3024, Tiers Cross and the existing Bulford Road Shared Use Path.
There are three phases in the overall scheme with phases one and two being a joint project between Pembrokeshire CC and South Wales Trunk Road Agency. The third phase will form the remaining part of the shared use path between phase 2 and Sunnycroft Roundabout (A4076). This work is expected to commence with future years funding and carried out by Pembrokeshire CC.
Read More >
21/01/2025
As part of the Christmas campaign, officers carried out intelligence-led vehicle checks and patrols at known hotspots between the start of December and New Year’s Day.
Overall, officers arrested 108 people during the month-long initiative.
Forty-five were arrested on suspicion of drink driving offences, 57 on suspicion of committing drug driving offences, and 6 on suspicion of being under the influence of both alcohol and drugs.
Read More >
20/01/2025
The Vale of Glamorgan Council has trialled a new sustainable repair system to mend damaged roads in the county.
Working with Roadmender Asphalt, the Council tested the Elastomac technique at Greave Close and Walston Road in Wenvoe.
The new system converts old tyres into an innovative road repair material which can lower the carbon footprint of patch repairs by 85 per cent.
Read More >
13/01/2025
Throughout December North Wales Police supported Op Limit, a national policing operation aimed at reducing fatal and serious road traffic collisions and protecting road users.
During the month-long campaign period, almost 200 people were caught at the wheel whilst under the influence of drink or drugs.
The annual campaign, which ran from 1 December 2024 to 1 January 2025, saw 66 arrests across the region for drink-driving, with another 108 for drug-driving.
Read More >
10/01/2025
Powys County Council has announced that work to improve the footpath and accessibility to Llanidloes High School and Llanidloes County Primary School is due to take place soon as part of a Welsh Government funded Safe Routes in Communities Active Travel project.
Identified on the Active Travel Network Maps (ATNM) by stakeholders, the existing footpaths were described as poor or unsuitable for making journeys by foot, particularly for those travelling to and from the school. The project has been designed to address these issues and will be the first step in developing a wider local active travel network within the town.
Read More >
06/01/2025
Road Safety Wales has kicked off the new year with a fresh delivery of motorcycle CRASH Cards, which are available free-of-charge to individual bikers, pillion passengers, and motorcycling club members in Wales.
Partnership Chair, Rhys John-Howes, explains the initiative: “At some point in your motorcycle riding life you may have an 'unscheduled dismount' or you may be with a rider who does. 'CRASH' is a set of easy to remember steps to keep you safe, as well as the unfortunate rider who has been involved in a collision.
“One side of the card has the mnemonic 'CRASH'. The person making the 999 call is the most important person at the scene, because the information they give determines the response of the emergency services.”
Read More >
03/01/2025
With the return of wintry weather conditions, if you find yourself driving on icy or snow covered roads, adapt your driving to the conditions:
- Reduce your speed. The chances of skidding are much greater and your stopping distance will increase massively.
- Only travel at a speed at which you can stop within the distance you can see to be clear. Speed limits are the maximum in ideal conditions; in difficult conditions, they can often be too fast.
- Avoid harsh braking and acceleration, or sharp steering.
- Always reduce your speed smoothly and in plenty of time on slippery surfaces.
- Slow down in plenty of time before bends and corners.
- Braking on an icy or snow covered bend is extremely dangerous. The centrifugal force will continue to pull you outwards and the wheels will not grip very well. This could cause your vehicle to spin.
- To brake on ice and snow without locking your wheels, get into a low gear earlier than normal, allow your speed to fall and use your brakes gently.
- Increase the gap between you and the vehicle in front. You may need up to TEN TIMES the normal distance for braking.
- Keep your vehicle well-ventilated. The car heater turned up fully can quickly make you drowsy.
- In snow, stop frequently to clean the windows, wheel arches, lights and number plates.
- Visibility will probably be reduced, so use dipped headlights.
- During wintry weather, road surfaces are often wet and/or covered in frost and ice or snow. But this does not occur uniformly. A road will often have isolated patches of frost or ice after most of the road has thawed – this commonly occurs under bridges, in shaded areas and on exposed bridges.
- Be aware of ice even on gritted roads, although the road has been treated the road is unlikely to be wholly free of ice.
Read More >
