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Huge change in number of crashes on 20mph and 30mph roads in WalesPolice forces in Wales reported 3,993 casualties from road incidents overall in 2024 - the lowest number apart from during

the Covid lockdown in 2020NewsRobert Dalling07:47, 22 May 2025Updated 07:48, 22 May 2025Police forces in Wales reported 3,993 casualties from road incidents in 2024 (Image: PA) New data from

Statistics Wales has revealed that serious crashes on 20mph and 30mph roads in Wales are at the lowest since records began, bar during the Covid lockdown in 2020.

Police forces in Wales reported 3,993 casualties from road incidents overall in 2024.

‌ The stats follow the implementation of the Welsh Government's controversial 20mph policy which saw most 30mph roads change to 20mph in September, 2023.

‌ The findings do not include accidents not reported to the police, or if they happened on private land, or where no injuries were recorded.

The 1,441 collisions on 20mph and 30mph roads resulted in 1,751 casualties. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here

This was down 20% from the previous year, the largest annual fall bar 2020.

Article continues below Transport secretary Ken Skates has admitted "mistakes were made" in the implementation of the policy.

He estimated the cost of switching some roads back to 30mph across Wales would be up to £5 million.

"This is about getting the right speeds on the right roads, building from the broad consensus that 20mph is right where people live, work and play," he said.

‌ "The key is that we are making those safe changes now – those sensible, pragmatic changes now in response to what the public have asked for."

His comments came after Wrexham Council switched two roads back to 30mph from 20mph, the first of 52 changes planned county-wide. You can read more about that here.

It follows the publication of revised guidance by the Welsh Government, allowing councils to switch certain roads back to 30mph if they met particular criteria.

‌ The roads switched back this week in Wrexham are the B5605 Wrexham Rd/High Street, in Johnstown, and the A525 Bryn-y-Grog Road.

Almost half a million signed a petition in 2023 calling for the default 20mph speed limit to be scrapped.

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