Kaarina Ruta

Transport Assistant, Welsh Local Government Association

Finnish and German, married to an Italian, Welsh by adoption, European at heart. Mother of four children. I studied International Relations in Geneva, Switzerland. Between 2012-2021 I taught undergraduate students in Law and Politics at Cardiff University.

I started working for the Welsh Local Government Association as a Transport Assistant in June 2021. I work closely with Welsh Government, Transport for Wales, the Local Authorities and other transport and road safety partners in Wales.

I have worked on the delivery of the national 20mph default on restricted roads in Wales, working towards introducing legislation on pavement parking and delivering a new road safety strategy for Wales.

I am involved in the Local Government Climate Strategy Panel and its Task and Finish Group on Transport. I sit on the Active Travel Board and Cross-Party Group on the Active Travel Act. I am a keen runner and cyclist, flamenco dancer and lover of the great outdoors.

My Sessions at Traffex

Wednesday 22 May 2024

10:30

Panel: Putting the Brakes on Speed: Data and Insights from the Rollout of 20mph Speed Limits in Residential Wales

10:30 - 11:10 Traffic Management
  • Background to the setting of 20mph as the default speed limit for urban roads in Wales.
  • A partnership approach to default speed limit change in Wales: discussing the change from policy to practice.
  • Overview of ongoing review into setting exceptions to the default.
  • How connected vehicle data has informed analysis and research of compliance since the new speed limit was implemented.