A controversial 20mph speed limit in Wales has cut road collisions and casualties in its first year, new statistics indicate.

Around 100 fewer people were killed or seriously injured in the year after the 20mph scheme launched

Latest police-recorded collision figures, covering July to September 2024, show there were around 100 fewer people killed or seriously injured on roads with 20mph and 30mph road speed limits in the 12-month period after the 20mph default speed limit arrived, compared to the same period a year before.

The data also shows the number of casualties on 20 and 30mph roads (combined) was 28% lower than the same period a year before.

The number of casualties on roads with 20 and 30mph road speed limits (combined) in 2024 between July and September was also the lowest Q3 figures in Wales since records began.

Ken Skates, Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales, said it would take a number of years to see the full impact of the policy but the latest figures were encouraging.

“We continue to build on the consensus that where 20mph is the right speed it works well. We have listened to people on the policy and we have empowered local authorities to make changes where it is safe to do so.”

Wales introduced a default 20mph speed limit on 17 September 2023 – making it the first UK nation to do so – but reversed parts of the policy following a backlash by drivers.

A petition opposing the move garnered almost 470,000 signatures – breaking records and prompting the Welsh government to rethink the scheme.

The current policy prioritises 20mph limits where pedestrians and cyclists frequently use the roads alongside vehicles unless strong evidence supports that higher speeds are safe.

The latest published statistics are available here.