Serious road casualties drop in Wales since 20mph

20mph limits were applied to 13,000km, or more than 8,000 miles, of Welsh roads in September 2023

There was a drop in casualties on 20mph and 30mph roads in Wales in the first three months of 2024, after the default 20mph speed limit was introduced.

The number of serious casualties or fatalities has dropped 23%, with 78 people killed or seriously injured on both 20mph and 30mph roads, compared to 101 serious casualties in the first quarter of 2023, before the default 20mph.

When minor injuries are included, the figures still show a 26% reduction for casualties of all severities.

The Welsh government called the figures "encouraging" and said every casualty reduced made a difference.

Since September 2023, 37% of roads in Wales have had a default 20mph limit, with far fewer roads now having a 30mph limit.

For that reason it is seen as best to look at casualties for 20mph and 30mph combined to judge any effects of the change.

The figures show there were 377 casualties of all severities in January to March, compared to 510 in the first quarter of 2023.

That included five fatalities at 20 and 30mph, compared to 11 in the same period in 2023.

The number of road casualties is the lowest quarterly figure recorded in Wales outside the Covid pandemic period, although Welsh government statisticians are cautious, warning that figures can be volatile and only cover a short period so far.

Nevertheless, indications are that the 20mph limit, aimed at getting motorists to slow down in built-up and residential areas, could be having an effect.

When we look at the six month period since last October - after the 20mph policy came in - there has been a 17% drop in serious road casualties, compared to the same six months in 2022-23.

The figures appear to underscore separate data from GoSafe, which found 97% of the thousands of vehicles monitored since January were keeping under the enforcement threshold of 26mph.

There has been controversy over the introduction of the default limit.

The Welsh government will be reviewing the limits on some main routes, after a backlash.

The Welsh government said the data on casualty figures were "encouraging and show things are moving in the right direction".

A spokesperson said: “We expect data to fluctuate over the next few years as drivers adjust to the new speed. We’ve still got a way to go but every casualty reduced makes a difference.

“The principal objective of the policy has always been to reduce casualties and help people feel safer in their communities and today’s data reinforces we’re on the way to achieving this.”

Conservative transport spokeswoman Natasha Asghar said they would scrap the policy, leaving 20mph zones outside schools and hospitals.

She said that 20mph had done nothing to improve congestion, and increases in congestion had probably contributed to the figures.