Welsh Government Reports Reduced Road Casualties After Speed Limit Change
The Welsh government switched the default speed limit on mostly urban roads on 17 September 2023, with most 30mph roads changing to 20mph, except for some exemptions.
Following a public backlash, ministers launched a review of the policy, and councils are currently re-evaluating which roads could be exempted.
In the third quarter of 2024, which spans from July to September, there were 410 road casualties from collisions on 20mph and 30mph roads. Among these incidents, three were fatalities, 90 were serious injuries, and 317 were slight casualties.
This represented a 35% decrease compared to the same quarter in 2023, according to the Welsh government.
Over the 12-month period from the fourth quarter of 2023 to the third quarter of 2024, the total number of casualties was 28% lower than in the corresponding period the previous year.
Transport Secretary Ken Skates commented: "The picture continues to be encouraging with the number of collisions on our roads at their lowest level for this quarter. We know there is a way to go and we've always said it will take a number of years to see the full impact of the policy but to see the figures for this quarter at their lowest level is positive."
Lee Waters, a backbench Labour MS who served as transport minister under Mark Drakeford, stated: "We can now say with confidence that in its first year the speed limit reduction represents the most successful road safety intervention in modern times. As we said in advance, a little bit slower but a whole lot better."
