New data confirms positive impact of 20mph speed limit
Emily Price
New data has revealed a reduction in road casualties and vehicle damage claims since the introduction of the 20mph speed limit in Wales last September.
The statistics have been published just as the Welsh Government is looking to water down the scheme.
The controversial road regulation saw the 30mph default shift to 20mph in Wales.
Following public backlash and a record breaking petition calling for the default to be axed, the Welsh Government announced it would amend council guidance to allow some roads to revert back.
The scheme was brought in under former First Minister Mark Drakeford and Deputy Minister for Climate Change Lee Waters.
But it was revised when Vaughan Gething came into office along with several other policies including farming payments and school year reform.
High risk
The new Cabinet Secretary for Transport Ken Skates admitted the cost of revising roads back to their previous speeds could be up to £5 million.
This is in addition to the £34 million it cost to roll out the limit initially.
But emerging data appears to show the speed limit is having the outcome hoped for by ministers before the policy was watered down in April.
Insurance company esure says it has seen a 20% drop in vehicle damage claims in Wales since the nationwide speed limit was introduced.
Rob Clark, head of motor underwriting, said: “We can see a clear drop in vehicle damage claims in Wales since the 20mph speed restriction was introduced in September 2023.
“During a time when we usually see these claims rise, they dropped and have continued to do so in the first quarter of 2024. The restriction is clearly having an impact.”
Exceptions
New road collision data published on June 6 showed 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.
The total number of casualties on 20mph and 30mph roads in quarter four 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).
The policy’s architect, Lee Waters, said: “Now that the data is starting to come in there’s a clear picture emerging to back up the evidence we used to inform the policy. Slower speeds in built up areas reduces collisions and cuts casualties.
“It makes sense that when you slow down you have greater awareness of dangers and have more time to respond. So it stands to reason that there are fewer crashes and less harm caused. But even though it stands to reason it does give confidence that the policy is working.
“There is no better rebuttal to the weaponisation of the policy by culture warriors than a pattern of data showing that.”
Road safety campaigners say the data strengthens the case for “minimal new exceptions” by councils.
Campaign Director of 20’s Plenty for Us, Rod King, said: “20’s Plenty believe that any future elaboration of guidance on 20mph exceptions will clarify rather than water anything down.
“Most local authorities have already taken a sensible and pragmatic approach to setting exceptions. These reports will strengthen the case for minimal new exceptions and endorse the value of the national 20mph default.”
We asked the Welsh Government why the 20mph scheme is being amended when there is evidence of a drop in accidents.
Mr Skates said: “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.”
Tory pledge
The new data comes as the Conservatives pledge to introduce legislation that would limit 20mph roads in Wales and reverse the expansion of London’s Ulez clean air zone if they win the General Election next month.
If implemented, the ‘Backing Drivers Bill’ would overturn the choice of voters in both regions and mark a significant reversal of devolution.
A Welsh Government spokesperson said speed limits in Wales are “a wholly devolved matter over which the UK Government has no jurisdiction.”
We asked Tory Shadow Minister for Transport Natasha Asghar if she thought it was acceptable for the Tories in Westminster to interfere with Welsh legislation.
She said: “The Welsh Conservatives have always been clear – there is a place for 20mph speed limits, but the approach taken by the Labour Government is far too extreme.
“Whilst it is welcome news that accidents are coming down, Labour cannot use these figures to declare the £33m project as a success.
“The figures released in relation to insurance claims should be taken with a pinch of salt as we are only talking about one company, and I would be keen to see the data for the dates proceeding the introduction of 20mph speed limits, as well as the causes of accidents.
“My Welsh Conservative colleagues and I will work with the UK Conservative Government to scrap Labour’s 20mph scheme and ensure it is rolled out where it is needed such as outside schools, hospitals, playgrounds and busy high streets.”
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“If implemented, the ‘Backing Drivers Bill’ would overturn the choice of voters in both regions and mark a significant reversal of devolution.”
So does the writer think that Wales is a “region”.?
I would suggest it’s far more “outrageous” that a future Tory UK gov intends to break the Sewell Convention, overturn the legislation of the democratically elected Welsh Parliament and a manifesto commitment by the elected governing party and impose law on Wales in a reserved devolved matter without the Tories even having won the GE in Wales.
Good ‘ole Natasha Asghar – never one for letting the facts get in the way of her populist bullsh1t!
These figures are for 20mph AND 30mph roads, why then include both, if we are looking to see the affect the 20mph speed limit has had, then just the stats for the 20mph zones should be released?
PS
I was dangerously over-taken while doing 20mph in a 20mph zone, which nearly resulted in a head on collision.
So this is Natasha Asghar’s idea of how laws should be made in Wales – “My Welsh Conservative colleagues and I will work with the UK Conservative Government to scrap Labour’s 20mph scheme and ensure it is rolled out where it is needed such as outside schools, hospitals, playgrounds and busy high streets”.
Who can recall David Cameron’s Conservative party’s pledge in 2010 to respect Welsh devolution. That didn’t last long did it. Boris gets elected and the jackboots come out. The irony is. Those Brexiteers said that the nasty EU was full of faceless bureaucrats that stole our sovereignty & power. I know who the real enemy of Wales is and it’s not the EU. And since the introduction of the 20 mph default speed limit the Welsh Tories in cahoots with English counterpart agent provocateurs demonised and lied about a blanket ban resulting in thousands signing a petition based on untruths.… Read more »
Data can be manipulated 1020 people poled became the majority of the people of Wales agreed that 20mph should be imposed in Wales, 20mph is not being adhered to with council vehicles and non emergency police and ambulances all trundling along at 30mph, so it seems strange that the data shows a reduction in accidents unless the numbers have been declining naturally over a number of years. And before someone says ‘it was in the manifesto’ I don’t care. It would be nice to see labour decimated in the next senedd elections. Long may Gething reign.
I’m not sure the point you’re trying to make here. Do you think the 20mph limit is a good idea or bad one? Very unclear
Can KS asked VG to ask one of his chums or indeed several to sponsor the cost of this review ?
If a top up is needed, Lady Finch of Llandudno can call on her small group of anti 20 mph troopers to help out now that their painting activities seem completed
I’m not really surprised by the results of this ‘new data’. I was initially a tad sceptical about the introduction of the 20 mph speed limit, but I could sort of see the point in principle of imposing it and so it seemed to me to be at least worth giving it a try. Once it came in, I very quickly grasped how it was likely to reduce serious accidents on urban roads, and so I morphed into being broadly, for now at least, in favour. Partly I’m influenced by the sensible way in which my own local council seems… Read more »
I’m not sure why you’re getting down voted. Maybe other readers aren’t interested in making or roads safer?
I don’t know either, given that none of the down-voters have opted to post any grounds for their dissent. I’ve been driving for fifty years now, and previously I’d never given any thought to possible advantages around reducing the speed limit in urban areas down to 20 mph. And when the new proposed legislation was first announced, my initial reaction was scepticism. But when the new legislation actually came in, and we chugged into the more crowded roads in one of our two local small towns, I could immediately see the positives of it, in that it was immediately very… Read more »
When will they release the air pollution figures? All the cars driving in lower gears and higher rpm will be significantly increasing emissions. Result, more air quality related deaths than will ever be saved by the 20mph.
That surely has to be a factor for consideration as well, but on the whole I think you’re right in suggesting that those figures are collected but aren’t much publicized.
Most people are still doing 30mph + in 20mph limits where there are no speed cameras so where do they get thier data from and by the way a lot of people dont claim of thier insurance if it’s a minor bump because they know thier insurance will go right up that’s why they say claims are lower so the senedd and the leftwing media jumps on it and say it’s working.
Regardless of whether or not you support or oppose the 20mph speed limit, it is not a decision that Westminster should take, but a decision for the Senedd. First of all the proposal to reduce the speed limit to 20mph was actually a conservative idea to start with.
Either way, if the Conservatives want this law repealed then they can put it in their 2026 election Senedd manifesto, and if this idea is popular they will get elected with a democratic mandate to reverse the law. But to repeal it from London sets a precedence, as it undermines devolution.
Thousands of people are seriously injured on our roads every year. Drivers haven’t taken responsibility by driving at the speed limit when it was 30mph, or by using using their mobile phones when driving, it by driving under the influence. If those against the change are angry, be angry at road users you l who cannot drive responsibly. Until that changes it is only right that authorities make changes to make our roads safer. If that means reducing speed limits, then so be it. Driving is not a right it is a privilege and road users should act accordingly. The… Read more »
If the insurance company claims that there’s been a 20% drop in vehicle damage claims then why has my premium gone UP by around 35%?
Now there’s a point! I wonder if there’s an insurance company which only offers motor insurance to folk who live in Wales?! Or which offers different terms to people who do?