People are just realising why furious drivers are tying red ribbons to the front of their cars
THE reason that drivers are tying red ribbons to the front of their cars has been revealed.
Motorists in Wales have taken to displaying the brightly coloured items on their bonnets as an act of protest against new road laws.
The Welsh Government’s plans to reduce the default speed limit in built-up areas to 20mph.
While officials maintain the measures, set to come into force next month, will reduce crash rates and cut down on noise pollution, many drivers have reacted with fury.
A whopping 21,000 people signed a petition calling for the changes to be scrapped for fear of “road rage“.
Martin Bailey, from Buckley, Flintshire, said: “We woke up one day and had all the signs uncovered and that was when we learned it was including the main roads.
“We’ve seen accidents, we’ve seen two walls demolished in 20mph zones.
“We don’t necessarily believe it’s making it any safer at all.”
The town was the site of a pilot scheme for the new limit last year and began using the ribbons to protest in a move that has now spread across Wales.
Martin added: “People are really concerned about the potential of enforcement and worried about sitting looking at the speedo constantly.
“[The ribbons are] a bit of a symbolic gesture, something that’s highly visible, to show support out in the roads for the cause.”
Jan Read may live 150 miles away in Cardiff, but she echoed Martin’s concerns, slamming the 20mph limit as “barmy“.
Like Martin, she believes drivers will be so afraid of speeding fines that they’ll spend more time watching their speed than watching the road.
A spokesperson for the Welsh Government said: “Decreasing speeds not only reduces collisions and saves lives but improves the quality of life, making room on our streets for safer active travel, whilst helping reduce our environmental impact.”