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Wales Online
13-05-2025
- Automotive
- Wales Online
When you think you're not speeding on Welsh roads
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 Drivers in Wales have been urged to check their sat navs and smartphone apps amid concerns thousands are unintentionally breaking the law. Speeding fines jumped significantly last year and out-of-date speed data is thought be one reason for the trend. Analysis by MoneySuperMarket has shown that in North Wales alone, speeding offences rose from 62,742 in 2023 to 97,088 in 2024. Many of these were on newly designated 20mph routes. While the 20mph law has been in place since September 2023, the comparison website said many factory-fitted car systems rely on SD cards or unpatched software that do not automatically update with the new speed limits. Older versions of popular navigation apps on smartphones, like Google Maps and Waze, also may not have fully incorporated the new speed limits, increasing the risk of accidental speeding and fines. It's left many drivers worried they may be penalised for unknowingly speeding. Megan, a 34-year-old marketing executive from Stamford, Lincolnshire, found herself unsure of the right limits when visiting family in Wales. She said: 'On a recent trip to see family in Pembrokeshire in Wales, I relied heavily on apps like Google Maps to not only get me there, but also to get me around. I quickly noticed that the speed limits shown on the app didn't always match the road signs, and in a few smaller towns and villages, some speed signs had even been tampered with, leaving me even more confused. 'It left me feeling quite unsure about what the actual speed limit was as I was driving through. I'm concerned I may have unintentionally gone over the limit whilst driving around, especially because I'm so used to trusting the map apps.' Join the North Wales Live Whatsapp community now Another challenge facing visitors to Wales is the lack of 20mph repeater signs in urban areas. This is because roads with street lights were automatically designated 20mph, so signs are considered unnecessary. Often, visitors believe the lack of signage indicates a 30mph zone, as in many urban areas across the border – though 20mph is becoming increasingly common in England too. One motorist caught out was Martin Toms, 74, a tourist from Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire. He was visiting North Wales when he was snapped doing 31mph in a 20mph zone on the A548 at Greenfield. It was the retired salesman's first ticket, having been driving since the aged of 17. Mr Toms thought he was in a 30mph area due to the lack of built-up surroundings. He was shocked to receive a fine a week later and he reluctantly forked out £95 for a three-hour speed awareness course. Adding insult to injury, the road is tipped to soon revert to a 30mph limit after a review by Flintshire Council. Megan said Wales' 20mph law made for an uncertain driving experience. She said: 'Even though the new 20mph limits have been in place for a while now, it's so easy to slip up when you're used to driving 30mph in most towns and villages in England. 'As I'm not used to the lower speed limits when driving around day to day, it was more of a challenge than I thought, especially when the technology doesn't keep up with local changes.' MoneySuperMarket has provided some tips to avoid speeding fines. These include updating your car's in-built sat nav regularly, especially if it uses an SD card. Smart phone navigation apps like Google Maps and Waz should also be refreshed to make sure they're running the latest version with accurate speed data. At the end of the day, motorists should always follow road signs – these reflects the legal limit, not devices, said the company. This is particularly important as some roads in Wales are reverting to 30mph. Alicia Hempsted, car insurance expert at MoneySuperMarket, said: 'Many drivers place complete trust in their sat navs or apps, unaware that these tools may be showing outdated speed limits. Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox 'But even if it's accidental, you can still be fined for speeding. Drivers who get a speeding conviction on a public road could see their annual premium increase by up to £179. Therefore, keeping your tech updated is essential, and if in doubt, always follow what the road signs say over your phone or sat nav.' Updating your system is not always as difficult as it sounds. Most in-car systems require removing their SD card or USB, and plugging them into a computer – updates can then be downloaded from the manufacturer's website. Find out what's happening on the roads near you
North Wales Live
13-05-2025
- Automotive
- North Wales Live
When you think you're not speeding on Welsh roads
Drivers in Wales have been urged to check their sat navs and smartphone apps amid concerns thousands are unintentionally breaking the law. Speeding fines jumped significantly last year and out-of-date speed data is thought be one reason for the trend. Analysis by MoneySuperMarket has shown that in North Wales alone, speeding offences rose from 62,742 in 2023 to 97,088 in 2024. Many of these were on newly designated 20mph routes. While the 20mph law has been in place since September 2023, the comparison website said many factory-fitted car systems rely on SD cards or unpatched software that do not automatically update with the new speed limits. Older versions of popular navigation apps on smartphones, like Google Maps and Waze, also may not have fully incorporated the new speed limits, increasing the risk of accidental speeding and fines. It's left many drivers worried they may be penalised for unknowingly speeding. Megan, a 34-year-old marketing executive from Stamford, Lincolnshire, found herself unsure of the right limits when visiting family in Wales. She said: 'On a recent trip to see family in Pembrokeshire in Wales, I relied heavily on apps like Google Maps to not only get me there, but also to get me around. I quickly noticed that the speed limits shown on the app didn't always match the road signs, and in a few smaller towns and villages, some speed signs had even been tampered with, leaving me even more confused. 'It left me feeling quite unsure about what the actual speed limit was as I was driving through. I'm concerned I may have unintentionally gone over the limit whilst driving around, especially because I'm so used to trusting the map apps.' Join the North Wales Live Whatsapp community now Another challenge facing visitors to Wales is the lack of 20mph repeater signs in urban areas. This is because roads with street lights were automatically designated 20mph, so signs are considered unnecessary. Often, visitors believe the lack of signage indicates a 30mph zone, as in many urban areas across the border – though 20mph is becoming increasingly common in England too. One motorist caught out was Martin Toms, 74, a tourist from Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire. He was visiting North Wales when he was snapped doing 31mph in a 20mph zone on the A548 at Greenfield. It was the retired salesman's first ticket, having been driving since the aged of 17. Mr Toms thought he was in a 30mph area due to the lack of built-up surroundings. He was shocked to receive a fine a week later and he reluctantly forked out £95 for a three-hour speed awareness course. Adding insult to injury, the road is tipped to soon revert to a 30mph limit after a review by Flintshire Council. Megan said Wales' 20mph law made for an uncertain driving experience. She said: 'Even though the new 20mph limits have been in place for a while now, it's so easy to slip up when you're used to driving 30mph in most towns and villages in England. 'As I'm not used to the lower speed limits when driving around day to day, it was more of a challenge than I thought, especially when the technology doesn't keep up with local changes.' MoneySuperMarket has provided some tips to avoid speeding fines. These include updating your car's in-built sat nav regularly, especially if it uses an SD card. Smart phone navigation apps like Google Maps and Waz should also be refreshed to make sure they're running the latest version with accurate speed data. At the end of the day, motorists should always follow road signs – these reflects the legal limit, not devices, said the company. This is particularly important as some roads in Wales are reverting to 30mph. Alicia Hempsted, car insurance expert at MoneySuperMarket, said: 'Many drivers place complete trust in their sat navs or apps, unaware that these tools may be showing outdated speed limits. Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox 'But even if it's accidental, you can still be fined for speeding. Drivers who get a speeding conviction on a public road could see their annual premium increase by up to £179. Therefore, keeping your tech updated is essential, and if in doubt, always follow what the road signs say over your phone or sat nav.' Updating your system is not always as difficult as it sounds. Most in-car systems require removing their SD card or USB, and plugging them into a computer – updates can then be downloaded from the manufacturer's website.
Wales Online
13-05-2025
- Automotive
- Wales Online
Slapping tourist with 20mph speeding ticket branded 'lunacy' by some but welcome by others
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 Live readers have been having their say after a tourist was caught speeding on a Welsh road that could soon see its speed limit increased. Martin Toms, 74, from Melton Mowbray in Leicestershire, was visiting North Wales when he was snapped doing 31mph in a 20mph zone on the A548 at Greenfield. It was the first ticket for Mr Toms, who has been driving since 17. Mr Toms thought he was in a 30mph area due to the lack of built-up surroundings and was shocked to receive a fine a week later. He reluctantly forked out £95 for a three-hour speed awareness course. Adding insult to injury, the road is tipped to revert to a 30mph limit soon after a Welsh Government review. Totemlad1 simply says: "Welcome to Wales, we are all fed up by this lunacy." ThePickledLiver writes: "So he didn't spot the big 20 sign with a day-glo yellow border, roughly the size of a washing machine then?" Geedeebee adds: "Stop whinging, I've been driving nearly as long and I manage to determine the speed limits of roads I'm unfamiliar with." Bungle110 says: "He defeats his own argument. If he thought it was a 30 why was he caught at 31?" Haroc comments: "Like most tourists…the rules don't apply to them! The camera read his speed at 31 mph but car speedometer readings are usually higher than your actual speed by about 5 miles, so his may have read 36 mph which certainly isn't in either speed parameters of 20 or 30 mph." RSDENNIS adds: "No brainer, everyone is well aware of the default speed limit in Wales, which has been in force for a while. Get yourself to the SPEED AWARENESS course and you will actually learn something. It's better than points on your licence,as you confirmed doing 11 over the speed limit." RealityCheck remarks: "I don't think it matters in the eyes of the law if the speed limit is changing soon. The fact is very obvious - it was 20 mph when he was speeding - simple as that." Ofcourseitis disagrees: "That's not the issue, it's the motivation behind the enforcement, this man has paid £95 for a speed awareness course for a stretch of road that within weeks he would not be speeding and would not require the course, it's nothing to do with safety, he has a case against the unfair action taken against him, which cannot be justified as any other than profiteering." Iannwales believes: "Driving without due care & attention, driver needs further training." Kinaston says: "He was even over the 30 limit. What's the issue? Is it because he was speeding and was caught? I, too, have attended a speed awareness course. I think I was 3 or 4 mph over. I seem to remember that we were informed that a course was unavailable if you are excessively over. 11mph over is that excessive?" Do you have any sympathy for the speeding tourist or not? Join in the conversation HERE or in the comments below.
North Wales Live
13-05-2025
- North Wales Live
Slapping tourist with 20mph speeding ticket branded 'lunacy' by some but welcome by others
North Wales Live readers have been having their say after a tourist was caught speeding on a Welsh road that could soon see its speed limit increased. Martin Toms, 74, from Melton Mowbray in Leicestershire, was visiting North Wales when he was snapped doing 31mph in a 20mph zone on the A548 at Greenfield. It was the first ticket for Mr Toms, who has been driving since 17. Mr Toms thought he was in a 30mph area due to the lack of built-up surroundings and was shocked to receive a fine a week later. He reluctantly forked out £95 for a three-hour speed awareness course. Adding insult to injury, the road is tipped to revert to a 30mph limit soon after a Welsh Government review. Totemlad1 simply says: "Welcome to Wales, we are all fed up by this lunacy." ThePickledLiver writes: "So he didn't spot the big 20 sign with a day-glo yellow border, roughly the size of a washing machine then?" Geedeebee adds: "Stop whinging, I've been driving nearly as long and I manage to determine the speed limits of roads I'm unfamiliar with." Bungle110 says: "He defeats his own argument. If he thought it was a 30 why was he caught at 31?" Haroc comments: "Like most tourists…the rules don't apply to them! The camera read his speed at 31 mph but car speedometer readings are usually higher than your actual speed by about 5 miles, so his may have read 36 mph which certainly isn't in either speed parameters of 20 or 30 mph." RSDENNIS adds: "No brainer, everyone is well aware of the default speed limit in Wales, which has been in force for a while. Get yourself to the SPEED AWARENESS course and you will actually learn something. It's better than points on your licence,as you confirmed doing 11 over the speed limit." RealityCheck remarks: "I don't think it matters in the eyes of the law if the speed limit is changing soon. The fact is very obvious - it was 20 mph when he was speeding - simple as that." Ofcourseitis disagrees: "That's not the issue, it's the motivation behind the enforcement, this man has paid £95 for a speed awareness course for a stretch of road that within weeks he would not be speeding and would not require the course, it's nothing to do with safety, he has a case against the unfair action taken against him, which cannot be justified as any other than profiteering." Iannwales believes: "Driving without due care & attention, driver needs further training." Kinaston says: "He was even over the 30 limit. What's the issue? Is it because he was speeding and was caught? I, too, have attended a speed awareness course. I think I was 3 or 4 mph over. I seem to remember that we were informed that a course was unavailable if you are excessively over. 11mph over is that excessive?"
Wales Online
10-05-2025
- Automotive
- Wales Online
Tourist left fuming at 20mph fine on Welsh road expected to return to 30mph in coming weeks
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 A tourist has been left fuming after getting his first ever speeding fine on a 20mph Welsh road that could soon revert to 30mph. Martin Toms, a 74-year-old retired salesman, said he had been driving since the age of 17 without ever receiving a speeding ticket. But this changed on a visit to North Wales in March on a road that has been 20mph since the default limit came in back in September 2023. Mr Toms had come from Melton Mowbray in Leicestershire to stay in Chester with his wife Wendy. They decided to have day trip to North Wales to look at the Duke of Lancaster ship, a former passenger vessel beached at Llannerch-y-Mor Wharf near Mostyn, Flintshire. But he fell victim to the 20mph limit in Wales. He was caught by a fixed camera doing 31mph in his Mercedes Vito campervan on a 20mph stretch on the A548 at Greenfield. Mr Toms said he saw the camera sign but as the area was not built up he thought he was in a 30mph zone. He received a speeding ticket a week later and has now paid £95 for a three hour speed awareness course. The pensioner is particularly annoyed because the road is expected to return to 30mph in the coming weeks. This follows a Welsh Government review that is due to see local authorities revert hundreds of roads across Wales back to 30mph this spring and summer. Flintshire council confirmed this location was on the list under review. Go Safe - who manage speed enforcement in Wales - said that while a review is ongoing they have not been informed of any decision at this stage to alter the limit. They added: "Until any change is confirmed and implemented by the Local Authority, drivers are required to comply with the posed 20mph speed limit." Mr Toms said: "I have had a clean licence all my life and I am now 74 years old. I have never knowingly broken a speed limit or had an accident in all that time. "I find this very annoying and even more so because the road could be back at 30mph in a few weeks, which in my view is the correct speed for that section." He added: "We had been staying in Chester for a couple of nights and literally dipped our feet into Wales with a trip to see the ship. We went through Flint and saw it was 20mph there and people were doing that speed as it is a built up area. Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox "We carried along the coast road and given that it was not built up and there are no schools here I assumed I was on a 30mph road. I saw the camera sign - although the camera itself it quite hidden - but I checked my speedometer and thought I was within the limit threshold. It was a complete surprise when a week later I received a speeding fine in the post. "I thought maybe they would look at my clean licence, the fact we are not from the area, and that this road could soon revert to 30mph and show some discretion. There must be so many visitors caught out as well as local people. "I would understand if I was doing 40mph or if I was caught in a built up area like Flint going at this speed but in all my experience of driving a road like this has always been 30mph. "I've certainly nothing against the Welsh people but I've something against the people who brought in this limit. I know friends who've also been fined on 20mph roads in Wales and say they are concerned about going back. "I've decided to bite the bullet and pay for the three hour course but I still don't consider that I did anything wrong." Flintshire have announced dozens of roads in the county that are now under review and could return to 30mph.
