20mph: Over 600 drivers caught twice the speed limit in Flintshire

Leader Live

6 days ago

New data gathered by Legal Expert reveals that 655 people were caught going at least double the speed limit on 20mph roads in the county between April 2024 and April 2025.
Legal Expert's research shows that almost two-thirds of those offences were on just three roads.
In just one year, 298 people were caught going 40mph or over on the A5104 Pontybodkin. That includes one driver clocked at 85mph in September 2024.
Another 74 went at least double the speed limit on the A548 Greenfield, as did 70 people on Gladstone Way when passing through Hawarden.
The Welsh government introduced 20mph as the default speed limit in September 2023, sparking widespread debate. While some roads are set to revert back to 30mph limits, Denbighshire County Council has said that it will resist calls to change.
Flintshire is due to see some of its roads go back to 30mph, although these figures show that many drivers will still be in excess of the allowed speed.
Legal Expert found that incidents involving drivers going well over the limit appear to be falling. An average of 67 drivers per month were recorded going over 39mph in a 20mph zone from April to September 2024, but that average fell to 46 in the following six-month period.
One such motorist to have been sentenced for going twice the 20mph speed limit was - Matthew Dickin, of New Road, Dobshill, who appeared at Wrexham Magistrates Court on Friday.
The 54-year-old had previously pleaded guilty to one offence of speeding, which took place on July 6 last year. Prosecutor Shaun Bartlett-Evans told the court that on the morning of the offence, a speed camera on the A549 at Mynydd Isa caught the defendant travelling at 42mph in a Land Rover motor vehicle.
Magistrates chair Stephen Copple handed down six penalty points - putting Dickin only three away from an automatic ban should he find himself back in court for any more motoring offences. Furthermore, he must pay a fine of £586, victim surcharge of £234 and costs of £130, which he agreed to pay within 28 days.
MORE NEWS:
The 'worst' driving offence in North Wales was on a 20mph road. In May last year, a person travelling on the B5129 in Pentre went 88mph, a full 68mph above the legal limit.
On the A483, North Wales Police recorded one driver going 116mph, the highest speed recorded across North Wales in the past year.
Nine drivers were seen travelling westbound on the A55 Rhuallt Hill at 100mph or over.
A GoSafe spokesperson said: "Excessive speed is one of the largest contributory factors to collisions on our roads. Higher speed collisions often means a higher severity and a devastating impact on families.
"GoSafe will continue to use the '4E' method to improve road safety; engineering, education, engagement, and enforcement. Enforcement is always the last option and is considered where the risk to people is highest.
"We'll continue to use these methods to reduce the number of people killed or injured on Welsh roads."