The speed limit in built-up areas will be reduced from 30mph to 20mph in Wales from next year in a UK first that the Labour-led Welsh government says will improve both safety and the quality of life for its citizens. Some opposition politicians and motorists have opposed the move to lower the default national speed limit on residential roads and busy pedestrian streets. New slower speed limits are currently being trialled in eight communities across Wales but will be rolled out nationally in September 2023 after a vote on Tuesday evening in the Welsh parliament. The new legislation will not apply a blanket speed limit on all roads but will make the default limit 20mph, leaving local authorities to engage with communities to decide which roads should remain at 30mph. Currently, just 2.5% of Welsh roads have a speed limit of 20mph, but from next year this is expected to increase to approximately 35%. Speaking after the vote, the minister for climate change, Julie James, said: “The evidence is clear. Decreasing speeds not only reduces accidents and saves lives, but helps improve people’s quality of life – making our streets and communities a safer and more welcoming place for cyclists and pedestrians, while helping reduce our environmental impact. “We know this move won’t be easy – it’s as much about changing hearts and minds as it is about enforcement – but over time 20mph will become the norm, just like the restrictions we’ve introduced before on carrier bag charges and organ donation. Once again, Wales is leading the way for other UK nations to follow.” Natasha Asghar, the Conservatives’ transport spokesperson in Wales, said: “The Welsh Conservatives are not against introducing 20mph speed limits outside schools, playgrounds, places of worship and high streets, but a blanket rollout is quite frankly ludicrous. Speed limits like this should be decided by councils in their local areas, not top-down by Labour ministers.” A petition launched by Adie Drury, from Flintshire, north-east Wales, against the move has been signed by more than 13,000 people. She said: “We here in Buckley are one of 8 unlucky towns whose councils decided to sell them down the river and bid to be the pilot towns. It is causing chaos, people avoiding the area and people having to take new routes.”