Road collisions and casualties down in Wales since 20mph default

The 20mph default speed limit was introduced in Wales on 17 September 2023

Both road collisions and casualties in Wales have dropped since the introduction of a default 20mph speed limit last year, new police data reveals. 

The figures, published by the Welsh Government, show that the personal injury road collisions reported by police from January to March 2024 were 18% lower than in the previous quarter and 17% lower than in the same quarter in 2023. The 20mph default speed limit was introduced in Wales on 17 September 2023.

In the first quarter of 2024, there were 606 police reported road collisions in Wales. Of these collisions: 16 (3%) were fatal; 163 (27%) were serious collisions; and 427 (70%) were slight collisions.

The number of police-recorded road collisions in the first quarter of 2024 is the lowest quarterly figure recorded in Wales outside the Covid-19 period, said the Welsh Government. “However, the number of quarterly road collisions in Wales has generally been declining steadily over the last decade and quarterly figures can be volatile,” it added. “Care should be taken when interpreting this data over a short time period.”

Road casualties have also fallen compared with levels before the 20mph default came into effect. 

In the first quarter of 2024 the total number of casualties is 17% lower than in the previous quarter and 16% lower than in the same quarter in 2023.

There were 811 road casualties reported in Wales. Of these casualties: 16 (2%) were killed; 188 (23%) people were seriously injured; and 607 (75%) had slight injuries.

As with collisions, the number of casualties in police-recorded road collisions in the first quarter of 2024 was the lowest quarterly figure recorded in Wales outside the Covid-19 period. But the number has generally been declining over the last decade, said the Welsh Government.

“While these data are the most detailed and reliable source of information on road collisions and casualties, they do not provide a complete record of all such incidents,” said the Welsh Government. 

“Given the increased interest in collisions data since the roll out of, we are publishing this statistical headline alongside the routine quarterly publication of data tables to summarise key results and to help interpretation and understanding.”

Campaign group 20's Plenty for Us said the drop in casualties was already seen in the first quarter after implementing the 20mph defaiult.

A second quarter’s worth of data appears to confirm the downward trend, the group said.

Although it is “still early days” some indicators give confidence that the downward trend and not a “blip”, states 20's Plenty for Us. 

It notes from police data that roads with speed limits of 40mph+ show a smaller drop in casualties: down 2% from a year earlier while the long-term downward trend of reported casualties accelerated from September 2023 onwards on 20/30mph roads.

Adrian Berendt, Director of 20’s Plenty for Us, said: “These results show how the 20mph default is making roads safer for Welsh communities.

“20’s Plenty congratulates politicians, local authority representatives and community leaders as well as the vast majority of drivers who have altered their behaviour to make Welsh communities better places to be.”