Wales reports 35% drop in road casualties on 20mph and 30mph roads

Provisional police figures indicate a significant reduction in road accidents in Wales following the implementation of a default 20mph speed limit. Between April and June 2026, casualties on roads with 20mph and 30mph limits fell by 35% compared to the same period in 2023, prior to the policy change. During this same timeframe, collisions on these specific roads decreased by 37%.

Across all Welsh roads, the second quarter of 2026 saw 638 reported collisions resulting in 856 casualties, representing a 19% decrease in collisions and a 20% decrease in casualties compared to the same quarter in 2025. The Welsh Government noted that these figures are the lowest recorded for these road types outside of the Covid pandemic period.

Deputy Minister for Transport Mark Hooper stated that the data provides evidence that the default 20mph limit is improving road safety. While the statistics show a downward trend, reports caution that quarterly figures can fluctuate due to weather and traffic volumes, noting that collisions and casualties have generally declined over the last decade.