Latest figures on the Welsh 20mph roll-out for restricted roads show huge reductions in collisions and casualties, with progress far outstripping England and Scotland on comparable networks.
A Welsh Parliament (Senedd) report found: 'Following the introduction of the 20mph default speed limit on Welsh restricted roads, the number of collisions on 20mph/30mph roads fell by 22.5% from 2023 Q2 to 2024 Q4. Collisions on other roads in Wales decreased slightly by 0.2%.
'During the same period in England, collisions on 20mph/30mph roads and other roads fell by 4.7% and 1.3% respectively. Scotland saw a slight increase of 1.5% on 20mph/30mph roads and a decrease of 7.4% on other roads.'
Casualty numbers on 20mph/30mph roads in Wales have also fallen at a faster rate than in England and Scotland, while a slight increase was seen on other Welsh roads.
The Senedd report states: 'In Wales, the number of all casualties on 20mph/30mph roads fell by 23.8% from 2023 Q2 to 2024 Q4. On other roads, there was a slight increase of 4.4%. In the same period, England saw decreases of 5.2% and 3.1% on 20mph/30mph roads and other roads respectively, whilst Scotland saw an increase of 3.1% on 20mph/30mph roads and a decrease of 6.4% on other roads.'
It added: 'There have been more casualties recorded historically on 20mph/30mph roads than on other roads. By 2024 Q4, this was no longer the case in Wales, following a similar trend seen previously in Scotland.'
The picture on KSIs was complicated by a change in reporting methodology in Dyfed-Powys. The authority moved to the injury-based reporting system CRASH, which tends to increase KSI figures.
Using 'adjusted figures for 20mph/30mph roads shows a (greater) reduction of 17.4% in KSI casualties', the report found.
It concluded: 'The story so far on 20mph suggests the policy has reduced both collisions and casualties on Welsh roads, with greater reductions in Wales than elsewhere in Great Britain. However, it is still early days for this evaluation.'
Transport for Wales (TfW) is monitoring the policy through of key performance indicators and has released several reports so far.
TfW noted that at least three years of collision data are needed to assess the policy's effects robustly. The Welsh Government announced in February that 'the evaluation will report in stages: an initial report this year, an interim report next year, and a final report in 2029'.
In September 2023, Wales became the first UK nation to introduce a default 20mph speed limit on restricted (residential and built-up) roads, changing from 30mph.
