Road collisions in Wales down 19% on a year ago, as Welsh Government credits 20mph limit

Road collisions in Wales fell by 19% and casualties by 20% between April and June 2026, compared with the same quarter last year, according to provisional police-recorded figures welcomed by the Welsh Government. On roads with 20mph and 30mph limits combined, collisions were down 22% and casualties down 20% year on year.

Compared with before the 20mph default

Against the same quarter in 2023, before the 20mph default speed limit was introduced in September 2023, collisions on 20mph and 30mph roads combined are down 37% and casualties down 35%. The Welsh Government says these are the lowest figures recorded in this way, excluding data from the Covid pandemic.

What the Deputy Minister said

Deputy Minister for Transport Mark Hooper said the figures were "extremely encouraging" and "more evidence that the 20mph default speed limit is helping to make our roads safer". He thanked the police forces of Wales for recording the data and said the government would keep monitoring trends as part of its evaluation of the policy.

A caution on the numbers

The Welsh Government itself notes that the figures are provisional, that quarterly figures can be volatile and that they are likely to be revised as police forces supply more data. A single quarter is not a verdict on the policy, and the release does not break the figures down by cause.