18 tractors fall foul of 20mph regime in North Wales and especially in one area
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North Wales motorists faced a speeding fine blitz in April when almost 6,000 were pinged on 20mph roads Among those caught out may well have been some drivers accustomed to more sedate speeds.
While the lower speed limit in built-up areas has been deeply unpopular in many circles, figures suggest it is having its intended impact. In 2024, police forces in Wales reported a total of 2,913 road collisions – the lowest annual figure ever recorded apart from 2020 during the Covid pandemic.
Yet it's not just your average motorist who needs to keep a careful eye on speedometers. Even farm tractors have been caught out since Spring 2024 when enforcement was ramped up in North Wales.
Freedom of Information requests from Select Car Leasing revealed that, in the the past year, 18 tractors drivers in the region were clocked breaking 20mph limits. They were dealt with by either a warning letter, speed awareness course, Fixed Penalty Notice of £100 and three points, or by further prosecution.
Reaching the highest speed was a New Holland tractor doing 32mph in a 20mph zone on the A548 in Flintshire in June 2024. In the same county, a Massey Ferguson tractor hit 31mph in a 20mph section of the A5104 last October.
In comparison, the fastest car driver clocked in Wales so far was travelling at 89mph. They were pinged on a 20mph road in North Wales in January 2025. The North Wales Live Whatsapp community for top stories and breaking news is live now - here's how to sign up
Overall, recorded illegal tractor speeds in the region ranged from 26mph to 32mph. According to North Wales Police figures, the main tractor speeding blackspots were in Flintshire, on the A5119 near Flint (six pings) and the A548 Oakenholt road (four).
On UK roads, most farm tractors are permitted to travel only at speeds of up to 25mph (40km/h) on public roads - though some wider tractors have lower limits still. Some tractors built to a higher spec and with improved suspension and road tyres are allowed to travel at up to 40mph.
Modified tractors can go much faster: in 2019 Guy Martin set a world record when driving the JCB Fastrac Two at 135.191mph at Elvington Airfield, York.
Graham Conway, managing director at Select Car Leasing, said: 'Speed limits apply to all vehicles on the road, not just cars. With more agricultural tractors on UK roads during the summer months, particularly during harvest season, it's important farm workers keep a close eye on their speedometers.
'Larger farm tractors can weigh 7 tonnes, they're often pulling heavy trailers, and they're stopping distances will be longer than for a traditional car. It's paramount that those in charge of tractors abide by the speed limit in order to keep all road users safe.'
The company also made FOI requests to Dyfed-Powys Police and Gwent Police but specific breakdowns were not readily accessible. However South Wales Police confirmed tractor drivers had broke 20mph speed limits in its area too.
Here, two Notices of Intended Prosecution were issued to tractor drivers for 20mph offences in 2024. One was clocked at 26mph, the other at 27mph.
Another tractor was even collared at 36mph earlier this year – though this was in a 30mph zone. Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox
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Wales Online
8 hours ago
- Wales Online
18 tractors fall foul of 20mph regime in North Wales and especially in one area
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info North Wales motorists faced a speeding fine blitz in April when almost 6,000 were pinged on 20mph roads Among those caught out may well have been some drivers accustomed to more sedate speeds. While the lower speed limit in built-up areas has been deeply unpopular in many circles, figures suggest it is having its intended impact. In 2024, police forces in Wales reported a total of 2,913 road collisions – the lowest annual figure ever recorded apart from 2020 during the Covid pandemic. Yet it's not just your average motorist who needs to keep a careful eye on speedometers. Even farm tractors have been caught out since Spring 2024 when enforcement was ramped up in North Wales. Freedom of Information requests from Select Car Leasing revealed that, in the the past year, 18 tractors drivers in the region were clocked breaking 20mph limits. They were dealt with by either a warning letter, speed awareness course, Fixed Penalty Notice of £100 and three points, or by further prosecution. Reaching the highest speed was a New Holland tractor doing 32mph in a 20mph zone on the A548 in Flintshire in June 2024. In the same county, a Massey Ferguson tractor hit 31mph in a 20mph section of the A5104 last October. In comparison, the fastest car driver clocked in Wales so far was travelling at 89mph. They were pinged on a 20mph road in North Wales in January 2025. The North Wales Live Whatsapp community for top stories and breaking news is live now - here's how to sign up Overall, recorded illegal tractor speeds in the region ranged from 26mph to 32mph. According to North Wales Police figures, the main tractor speeding blackspots were in Flintshire, on the A5119 near Flint (six pings) and the A548 Oakenholt road (four). On UK roads, most farm tractors are permitted to travel only at speeds of up to 25mph (40km/h) on public roads - though some wider tractors have lower limits still. Some tractors built to a higher spec and with improved suspension and road tyres are allowed to travel at up to 40mph. Modified tractors can go much faster: in 2019 Guy Martin set a world record when driving the JCB Fastrac Two at 135.191mph at Elvington Airfield, York. Graham Conway, managing director at Select Car Leasing, said: 'Speed limits apply to all vehicles on the road, not just cars. With more agricultural tractors on UK roads during the summer months, particularly during harvest season, it's important farm workers keep a close eye on their speedometers. 'Larger farm tractors can weigh 7 tonnes, they're often pulling heavy trailers, and they're stopping distances will be longer than for a traditional car. It's paramount that those in charge of tractors abide by the speed limit in order to keep all road users safe.' The company also made FOI requests to Dyfed-Powys Police and Gwent Police but specific breakdowns were not readily accessible. However South Wales Police confirmed tractor drivers had broke 20mph speed limits in its area too. Here, two Notices of Intended Prosecution were issued to tractor drivers for 20mph offences in 2024. One was clocked at 26mph, the other at 27mph. Another tractor was even collared at 36mph earlier this year – though this was in a 30mph zone. Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox Find out what's happening on the roads near you
North Wales Live
8 hours ago
- North Wales Live
18 tractors fall foul of 20mph regime in North Wales and especially in one area
North Wales motorists faced a speeding fine blitz in April when almost 6,000 were pinged on 20mph roads Among those caught out may well have been some drivers accustomed to more sedate speeds. While the lower speed limit in built-up areas has been deeply unpopular in many circles, figures suggest it is having its intended impact. In 2024, police forces in Wales reported a total of 2,913 road collisions – the lowest annual figure ever recorded apart from 2020 during the Covid pandemic. Yet it's not just your average motorist who needs to keep a careful eye on speedometers. Even farm tractors have been caught out since Spring 2024 when enforcement was ramped up in North Wales. Freedom of Information requests from Select Car Leasing revealed that, in the the past year, 18 tractors drivers in the region were clocked breaking 20mph limits. They were dealt with by either a warning letter, speed awareness course, Fixed Penalty Notice of £100 and three points, or by further prosecution. Reaching the highest speed was a New Holland tractor doing 32mph in a 20mph zone on the A548 in Flintshire in June 2024. In the same county, a Massey Ferguson tractor hit 31mph in a 20mph section of the A5104 last October. In comparison, the fastest car driver clocked in Wales so far was travelling at 89mph. They were pinged on a 20mph road in North Wales in January 2025. Overall, recorded illegal tractor speeds in the region ranged from 26mph to 32mph. According to North Wales Police figures, the main tractor speeding blackspots were in Flintshire, on the A5119 near Flint (six pings) and the A548 Oakenholt road (four). On UK roads, most farm tractors are permitted to travel only at speeds of up to 25mph (40km/h) on public roads - though some wider tractors have lower limits still. Some tractors built to a higher spec and with improved suspension and road tyres are allowed to travel at up to 40mph. Modified tractors can go much faster: in 2019 Guy Martin set a world record when driving the JCB Fastrac Two at 135.191mph at Elvington Airfield, York. Graham Conway, managing director at Select Car Leasing, said: 'Speed limits apply to all vehicles on the road, not just cars. With more agricultural tractors on UK roads during the summer months, particularly during harvest season, it's important farm workers keep a close eye on their speedometers. 'Larger farm tractors can weigh 7 tonnes, they're often pulling heavy trailers, and they're stopping distances will be longer than for a traditional car. It's paramount that those in charge of tractors abide by the speed limit in order to keep all road users safe.' The company also made FOI requests to Dyfed-Powys Police and Gwent Police but specific breakdowns were not readily accessible. However South Wales Police confirmed tractor drivers had broke 20mph speed limits in its area too. Here, two Notices of Intended Prosecution were issued to tractor drivers for 20mph offences in 2024. One was clocked at 26mph, the other at 27mph. Another tractor was even collared at 36mph earlier this year – though this was in a 30mph zone.
Scotsman
2 days ago
- Scotsman
The 22 Edinburgh roads where speed limit will be reduced from 40mph to 30mph from next month
Changes designed to improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists will involve the speed limit on 22 roads in Edinburgh being reduced from 40mph to 30mph. Sign up for the latest news and analysis about Scottish transport Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Drivers in Edinburgh will face stricter new speed limits across some of the city's busiest roads from next month as part of long-awaited changes. The speed limit will be cut from 40mph to 30mph on 22 streets throughout the city, including key thoroughfares such as Queensferry Road and Wester Hailes Road. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The changes, which were first approved more than five years ago, are designed to encourage motorists to drive more slowly and boost the safety of pedestrians and cyclists. Edinburgh City Council will begin implementing the speed reduction measures from June 9. The work to install new speed limit signs will begin at Biggar Road, and run throughout June and July. Once the new signs are in place, the new speed limits will be enforceable. Queensferry Road is among those streets impacted by the changes. | TSPL The other roads impacted by the new lower limit are: Calder Road; Frogston Brae; Glasgow Road (east section) Glasgow Road (west section and Old Liston Road); Gogar Station Road; Hawes Brae and Bankhead Road; Hillhouse Road; Lang Loan (section at the junction with Lasswade Road); Lasswade Road; Milton Road, Milton Road East and Milton Link; Riccarton Mains Road; Sir Harry Lauder Road; Seafield Road; South Gyle Broadway; Straiton Road; and Wester Hailes Road Stephen Jenkinson, the council's transport and environment convener, said: 'Road safety is a key priority for us and I'm glad that we're moving ahead with this important process. Whilst this has taken longer than we initially anticipated, I'm confident that these measures will make many of our roads across the city safer. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'The evidence is clear - lower speed limits make roads safer for everyone. A pedestrian or cyclist has twice the chance of surviving a collision at 30mph compared to 40mph. Any action that we can take to make sure all road users are safer is a positive step.' The changes, which have been supported by Police Scotland, were initially agreed as long ago as February 2020, when the council began the statutory process for what is known as a traffic regulator order to reduce the speed limit on the streets. However, complications brought about by the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic led to delays. The surgeon was driving at below the 30mph speed limit, the court heard | PA More than 100 traffic surveys were undertaken prior to the changes being ratified. A consultation was also held, with 52 responses received, of which 32 were letters of support, with 20 objections. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad A consultant was appointed to design the necessary changes to the streets impacted, with road safety audits also carried out once the designs were completed. According to the council, the programme of changes was then passed over to the delivery team in November last year for procurement. The move meets several policies in the council's local transport strategy. A map of the roads with new 30mph speed limits can be viewed on the council's website. It comes as the council is considering wider changes to introduce 20mph speed limits on more roads across the city. The changes, which are expected to be rolled out from late 2026, are estimated to cost around £850,000. Here is the full list of roads where speed limits will be reduced from 40pmh to 30pmh
