Collisions and casualties on Welsh roads with 20mph and 30mph limits fell by around a quarter in the period between April and June of this year, compared with the equivalent period in 2023, according to the latest police data.
Welsh Government officials pointed out that these were the lowest levels recorded outside of the pandemic.
During the quarter, both collisions and casualties on 20mph and 30mph roads (combined) fell by 24%, quarter compared to April to June 2023, a comparison that officials said is ‘both advisable and meaningful’ because data is impacted by seasonal factors such as traffic volume and weather conditions.
In the first nine months since the introduction of a national 20mph limit on restricted roads in September 2023, the number of collisions (26%) and casualties (28%) on 20mph and 30mph roads (combined) also fell by more than a quarter.
Officials said the three quarterly reductions within this period are the three largest quarterly reductions outside the pandemic period.
Cabinet secretary for transport and North Wales Ken Skates said: ‘The data published today provides encouraging signs that things are moving in the right direction, with a fall year-on-year in collisions and casualties - the lowest on record outside the COVID pandemic period.
‘We recognise there is still a way to go, we’ve always said it will take many years before we see any significant impact, but these figures are beginning to show a positive trend towards making our roads safer for everyone.’
In July, the Welsh Government published guidance on which roads local authorities might exempt from the default 20mph limit following what Mr Skates called a ‘National Listening Programme’.
Mr Skates added: ‘Local authorities are currently reviewing the feedback from their citizens and assessing it against our revised guidance to make sure they have the right speeds on the right roads, with road safety being at the heart of any decision made.’
