The Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) has been presented with a road safety award from the Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation (CIHT).
At its annual awards ceremony in Abergele on 29 November, CIHT Cymru presented the WLGA with the Alun Griffiths Award for Health, Safety and Wellbeing.
The award recognises the national default 20mph speed limit in Wales as a policy initiative that has ‘significantly contributed to casualty reduction and improved safety for all transport users’.
20’s Plenty for Us nominated the WLGA for its commitment over four years in planning and achieving the 20mph default in September 2023.
Data shows there were 489 fewer casualties on 20/30mph roads for the period October 2023 to June 2024 (1,286 casualties) versus October 2022 to June 2023 (1,775 casualties).
Kaarina Ruta was the lead officer in WLGA co-ordinating implementation and commented.
She said: “I was delighted to receive the award on behalf of all the local authorities in Wales and see their hard work recognised by the CIHT.
“The award is dedicated to everyone who played a part in making 20mph in built-up areas the default in Wales and a celebration of the lives saved because of it. I would also like to thank 20’s Plenty for Us for the nomination and their tireless contribution to the project over the years.”
Rod King MBE, chair of 20’s Plenty for Us CIC, said: “It was great to see highway and transport professionals from across Wales celebrating the annual CIHT Cymru awards for outstanding achievements and projects.
“Changing the way that we all share our roads needs commitment and effort from local authorities and national governments alike. Winning this award demonstrates the major contribution of WLGA to this transformative change to the health, safety and wellbeing of Welsh communities.
“This award is testament to the WLGA’s action in deploying 20mph in a progressive and pragmatic way and making Welsh places better places to be.”
Comment on this story