The number of casualties dipped after new law introduced but latest data show they rose again last year
The number of deaths and serious injuries on Welsh roads rose last year after initially falling when the 20mph speed limit was introduced, new data has shown.
The latest figures from the Department for Transport show that 91 people died on roads in Wales in 2025. This is up from 84 deaths reported in 2024, the first full year in which the default 20mph speed limit on roads was introduced.
The law, which came into force on September 17, 2023, proved to be hugely controversial. A petition against the speed limit broke Senedd records with just shy of 500,000 signatures, and the policy is still regularly brought up as an attack line by Reform and Conservative politicians, against Labour, who introduced the policy, and Plaid Cymru, who supported it.
Supporters have previously said data has shown that the aim of making Wales’ roads safer is being achieved with the speed limit.
The Welsh Government said road safety remains a priority, and added that the number of deaths on roads with a 20mph limit stayed the same in the latest data set. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here.
The Department for Transport data on collisions on all roads in Wales show that in 2023 – the year the 20mph default limit was introduced – there were 101 deaths, which was up frojm 95 in 2022 and 86 in 2021.
In 2024, the first full year of data when the default speed limit was active, the number of deaths on Welsh roads dipped to 84. Last year, the figure rose back up to 91.
The Welsh Government said data shows there were 19 fatalities on 20mph roads in Wales in 2025, the same number as in 2024.
The Department for Transport data also reveals that the number of serious injuries on Welsh roads also crept up in 2025 after falling in 2024.
There were 1,361 people killed or seriously injured last year, which is the highest number of casualties since 2019, when 1,485 people were killed or seriously injured.
In 2025, the Welsh Government said were 1,469 collisions on roads with 20mph and 30mph speed limits (combined), 2% higher than in 2024 (1,445 collisions) but is the second lowest annual number recorded in Wales, the lowest being in 2024.
Collisions were 22% lower than in 2022 (1,886 collisions), the most recent full calendar year before the change in default speed limit was implemented.
Other data has suggested that levels of compliance with the speed limit steadily decreased after its initial implementation, with average speeds creeping back up.
Drivers in Wales are still driving more slowly overall than they were before 20mph was introduced. A report published by Transport for Wales in July 2025 looked at the impact of the 20mph default speed limit and how it has performed according to indicators. It says while there has been “some fluctuation” in speeds, “overall there has been a significant and sustained increase in vehicles being driven at or below 24mph”.
The Welsh Government made some changes to the 20mph law. Former Labour transport minister Ken Skates said he would allow Wales’ 22 councils to consult with local residents to hear which roads they think needed to change back from 20mph.
He said he would make an extra £5m available to fund the changes. Since then, a significant number of roads have reverted back to the 30mph limit, and there are regularly announcements about alterations that will be made on other roads.
Adrian Berendt, from campaigners 20’s Plenty for Us, previously said the 20mph limit has made “Welsh communities safer” and there are also signs within the insurance industry that it is allowing them to reduce the cost of car insurance premiums.
Insurer esure published a press release in June 2024 saying it had seen a 20% drop in claims for car accidents since the default limit was introduced. The company also said drivers in areas with the 20mph limit are likely to see an average of £50 off their premiums compared to people who don’t.
Head of motor underwriting Rob Clark said then: “People are not crashing as much and when they do they are not causing as much damage. We are able to reflect it in the premiums.”
The Welsh Government said: “Every death on our roads is a tragedy, and road safety remains a priority for this government.
“There were 19 fatalities on 20mph roads in Wales in 2025, and the same number in 2024. So numbers of fatalities on 20mph roads in Wales has stayed the same not increased.
“In 2025, 91 people were killed in collisions on all types of roads in Wales, compared with 84 in 2024 and 96 in 2022, the year before the 20mph default speed limit was introduced.”
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