Casualties reduce on roads since 20mph introduction
New road collision data published today shows that casualties have reduced on roads since the introduction of the new 20mph speed limits in September last year.
The data, which provides the total number of casualties in police recorded collisions, shows that in the last quarter of 2023 (October – December) road casualties on 20mph and 30mph roads reduced by 218, from 681 in 2022 to 463 in 2023.
Lowest on record
The total number of casualties on 20mph and 30mph roads in Q4 was the lowest quarterly figure on record outside the Covid pandemic period.
Overall, in 2023 police in Wales reported a total of 3,262 road *collisions, a decrease of 1.6% compared to 2022 and 24.7% lower than in 2019 (prior to the covid pandemic).
Listening programme
Cabinet Secretary for North Wales and Transport, Ken Skates said: “The data published today clearly shows that casualties on 20mph and 30mph roads have reduced since the introduction of 20mph – the lowest on record outside the Covid pandemic period.
“We’ve still got a way to go, and we expect numbers to fluctuate over the next few years as drivers adjust to the new speed, but it’s encouraging to see that things are moving in the right direction. Every casualty reduced makes a real difference.”
“The principal objective of the policy has always been to reduce casualties and help people feel safer in their communities and today’s data reinforces we’re on the way to achieving this.
“But, as I continue on my listening programme, I am aware that we still need to refine the policy to ensure we have the right speeds on the right roads and acknowledge that some roads may need to revert back to 30mph.
“I encourage people to get in touch with their local council to tell them where they think 20mph should and should not be targeted.”
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Jog on ARTD!
I wonder what the “ U turner “ in Chief at Cardiff Bay will say after rubishing this child snd family safety policy ?
Lady Janet F S of Llandudno Prom will perhaps move back to supporting her other favourite topic of backing holiday cottages and second homes ?
I would also hope that there are fewer collisions with pets and wildlife and the suffering that causes not just to the animals but the pet owners as well. Although having seen two squashed hedgehogs and two badgers around Wrexham in the last couple of days it might be a bit of wishful thinking.
Badgers and hedgehogs, being nocturnal, are more frequently the victims of night time collisions on roads set at the UK national speed limit of 60 or local restrictions at 50. We could do more for both by improving the habitats where they breed and feed.
Both the Hedgehogs were within urban areas (badgers on semi-rural roads) so you would hope they would be seen, but even with LED street lights suppose can be easily mistaken for something else.
Love a positive fact.
How much has the NHS saved? How many are walking and cycling?
How low have emission fallen?
Yes, looking forward to that data in due course. I hope the reports are equally encouraging.
On the face of it very good news indeed, but it’s hard to judge based on one year alone. Of interest perhaps is this government report from 2022, which shows a fairly steady downward trend from 10,000 recorded collisions in 1993 to 3300 in 2022 anyway. If the government can keep its nerve with the 20mph limit, perhaps we’ll be better able to judge in a year’s time.
https://www.gov.wales/police-recorded-road-collisions-2022-revised-html#:~:text=Wales%20recorded%20the%20lowest%20number,decrease%20compared%20to%201993%2D1995.
You probably need three or four years data to get a clear view of the effect and any trends.
Difficult to have data on near-misses as they are non-incidents, but I had three youngsters step out in front of me recently. I shudder to think what would have happened if I hadn’t been doing 20.
1%. At the cost of £32 million. How great.
You are talking about lives saved
Really????? Because the amount of accidents in the area I live in had doubled, never seen so many crashes
Evidence please.