This paper kindly supplied by the Alliance Of British Drivers was first presented to the then Undersecretary of State For Transport. The Rt Hon Mike Penning MP by the ABD on 17/10/2011.

It explains a rational, scientifically-based approach to speed limit setting using 85th Percentile principles alongside common-sense law enforcement by the police.

It also touches upon the potential conflict between rational speed limit setting and the “localism” agenda and points out that rational speed limit setting is unlikely to emerge from inexpert local politicians knee-jerk reacting to local pressures for “something to be done” to improve road safety.

One wonders whether the Welsh Labour Govenment were aware of the issues raised by this paper when setting a default 20mph speed limit and, if so, why they chose to ignore them?