Anti-20mph group refuses to back down despite big drop in casualty numbers
Martin Shipton
A campaign group that opposes the introduction of a default 20mph speed limit on roads in Wales has refused to change its position despite official statistics that show significant falls in deaths and injuries at all speeds since the change was made.
Most roads with a 30mph speed limit saw it reduced to 20mph from September 2023.
Figures published by the Welsh Government show casualty reductions as follows for the period January to March 2024, in comparison with January to March 2023:
All severities at all speeds: 811 (2024); 4348 (2023);
20mph. All severities: 300 (2024); 662 (2023)
Killed or seriously injured: 63 (2024); 144 (2023)
Slightly injured: 237 (2024); 518 (2023)
30mph. All severities: 77 (2024); 1522 (2023)
Killed or seriously injured: 15 (2024); 343 (2023)
Slightly injured: 62 (2024); 1179 (2023)
40mph. All severities: 74 (2024); 397 (2023)
Killed or seriously injured: 20 (2024); 98 (2023)
Slightly injured: 54 (2024); 299 (2023)
50mph. All severities: 94 (2024); 273 (2023)
Killed or seriously injured: 23 (2024); 67 (2023)
Slightly injured: 71(2024); 206 (2023)
60mph. All severities: 214 (2024); 1235 (2023)
Killed or seriously injured: 71 (2024); 401 (2023)
Slightly injured: 143 (2024); 834 (2023)
70mph. All severities: 52 (2024); 259 (2023)
Killed or seriously injured: 12 (2024); 73 (2023)
Slightly injured: 40 (2024); 186 (2023)
‘Reduce casualties’
Responding to the new figures, a Welsh Government spokesperson said: “We’ve still got a way to go but every casualty reduced makes a difference. The principal objective of the policy has always been to reduce casualties and help people feel safer in their communities and this data reinforces we’re on the way to achieving this.”
However, a spokesperson for the anti-20mph limit United Voices Senedd Lobby Group responded: “The release of the latest road incidents data has been welcomed by the Welsh Government as they congratulate each other on how the figures prove their decision to implement the 20mph legislation was correct.
“Unfortunately, the data provided is incomplete making it impossible to compare like with like. However, what the data provided does highlight is an increase in deaths and serious injuries across all roads combined for the first six months of available data. In Q4 (Quarter 4) 2022/2023 there was an increase of six deaths and 26 serious injuries and in Q1 2023/24 there was no decrease in deaths and an increase of 10 serious injuries
“The Welsh Government needs to explain to the Welsh public, why this trend has occurred since the implementation of The Restricted Roads (20mph Speed Limit) Order 2022 and also explain to the Welsh taxpayer how this fits in with the claims of saving the NHS £92m per year.
“Rather than taking just one part of the data that fits the narrative we would suggest that the Welsh Government need to hold themselves accountable to not just the individuals and families involved in these incidents but also to the wider country of Wales. We need to know not only how but why we continue to see no decrease in deaths and an increase in serious injuries.
“These are questions only the Welsh Government can and should answer.
Smokescreen
They added: “We still suspect that implementing the 20mph on the basis of saving lives is a smokescreen for the real reason behind the legislation and would welcome clarification from the Welsh Government and Ken Skates MS – Cabinet Secretary for North Wales and Transport on the emphasis they are putting on meeting their agenda as set out in the Welsh Transport Delivery Plan.
“The promised benefits to air quality did not happen. This is illustrated by these direct quotes from the Welsh Government document Introducing 20mph speed limits: frequently asked questions: “Transport for Wales (TfW) published the 20mph phase 1 air quality monitoring report in May 2024. The data shows no material effect on local air quality to date.’ Also,: “Imperial College London found that 20mph limited areas were ‘pollution neutral’.
“The anger and frustration regarding 20mph in Wales continues as people still feel their voice is not being heard in the Welsh Government.
“More protests are happening and planning is well under way for an ‘around Wales’ protest from September 14-15 2024 culminating in a protest meeting on the steps of the Senedd September 17 in Cardiff. Before that Conwy County has another protest happening on Saturday August 10 to highlight the continued opposition in the county.”
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Don’t have an issue with it. Interesting they say the figures are not clear then base their attacks on it on the figures?
Still, ARTD can trot out his comfort blanket. Again. Come on Capn Tub Thumper, get that tub a banging…..
Yesterday, did a lot of 60, some 50, some 40 some 30 and a small part 20.
20 mph in residential areas is sensible. The problem is that current vehicles are largely unsuitable to drive at that speed. Low power electric cars cheap to run for use in urban areas is the answer with designation of fast track access roads as well.
The worrying trend is EVs and Hybrids are around twice as likely as IC engine cars to be involved in collisions with pedestrians. That suggests pedestrian accident rates could be even lower without the growth in numbers of these vehicles.
Select the appropriate gear for the speed – so change down a gear.
Bet they are the kind who never did 30 when it was 30 and drive pointless mock 4×4. Stats seem good, shame it’s rare I see someone doing 20 around Pontypridd
Glad to see the 20mph limits having a positive effect. 20mph limits now appear to be a popular choice in England. Where Wales leads others follow.
Nice change not to post a comment without ridiculing Arty D. Hope he takes note of these figures.
Do not have a problem with 20, it reduces the stress and helps out when someone else does a stupid thing, last time,a couple of weeks ago,someone coming out of a local pub and crossing the road without looking, it became a non-event.
If people are frustrated perhaps they should not be driving.
Here’s a list showing who is normally at fault.
Maybe people need to start taking responsibility for their actions?
Those statistics look made up, can you provide a link to the source? If the link doesn’t end with .gov.uk the it is VERY suspicious.
https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/reported-road-casualties-great-britain-pedestrian-factsheet-2021/reported-road-casualties-great-britain-pedestrian-factsheet-2021
Table 5 buddy. It’s on the .gov website labeled:
“Contributory factors allocated to pedestrians and vehicles involved in fatal or serious collisions with pedestrian, GB: 2016 to 2021”
OK I stand corrected.
WTF?
Like when they break the statutory speed limit.
You’re spot on. When drivers are behind the wheel, wether they like it or not, they are responsible for the safety of everyone around them, passengers in their vehicle, passengers in other vehicles and also pedestrians.
Driving slower means you have more time to see a risk, more time to think about how to react and then more time to stop.
Thanks for making that point. It was a good one.
If they’re not worried about injuring or maiming a child, perhaps they will be more concerned if a stray dog is knocked down. Such is the “entitled” mentality.
Every piece of evidence is another strip torn off that blanket.
Soon RTDavies and other opponents of 20mph will be fighting over the remaining scrap in an attempt to protect their modesty.
Of all the issues concerning Wales and the World they pick on a speed limit! An action that is making Wales a little safer.
The office of national statistics show the biggest cause of death in children and young people to be yet again congenital malformations etc. Are these children’s lives not worthy of saving?
All children are worth saving. That’s why Wales brought in 20 mph zones.
It would be helpful to have the figures for the rest of the UK nations – we need to clarify if it is a Wales thing or is it simply all drivers ae driving more carefully. That would help determine if the 20mph limit had an impact or is just a waste of time and money.
A complete waste of money
20mph is still faster than the dead horse this lot keep flogging
Sadly, you’re missing the point.
This is much more than just a speed limit. It’s the way the Wlg conducted the consultation, implemented the legislation and the choices they have made and continue to make.
Perhaps this will make you feel better https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/article/2024/aug/05/man-found-guilty-death-by-careless-driving-london .
Bit disappointed I only got 3 negative votes for my comment about flogging a dead horse, I thought it was quite a good one.
I’ll give you a negative vote pal, I’ll make it 4! Haha!
Thanks for that I’ll cherish it like
Arty D hugs his comfort blanket
From figures available 51% of roads are 20 mph in London. Same source 35% of roads in Wales.
Many large authorities Bristol being one, and close to Wales have default 20mph, the so called blanket.
Spain have had a default Urban 20mph or actually 30km/hr which is about 19mph since 2021. It hasn’t stopped tourism.
My father always said figures are like a lady of ill repute once down you can do what you like with them
Statistics 101. There are correlated figures and causally related figures. Currently we only have correlated figures for the 20 mph issue – lower speed limits, fewer injuries. In other words, correlated figures prove nothing even if parliamentarians would like them to do so. It has not been proved that one lower speed means fewer casualties. We need causally related figures – what was happening over say the las tten years in all the UK countries? European countries? We also need the 20 mph Welsh figures over time – the current drop may just be a temporary one off result –… Read more »
Physics and biology intuitively point to lowering the speed limit and drivers keeping to the lower limit resulting in less deaths and injuries (and an increase in the number of misses and near misses). All other things being equal.
If the data is interpreted as there being no change or higher casualties then it suggests that “all other things” are not equal rather than the laws of motion and human physiology work in different ways at different speeds.
There is a manual for driving which everyone should be familiar with and should be read regularly not just when you are learning to pass the driving test it is called the
Highway Code it`s there for a reason