Welsh road deaths rise again after initial drop under 20mph speed limit

The Department for Transport reported that 91 people died on Welsh roads in 2025, up from 84 the previous year and close to the 101 deaths recorded in 2023, the year the 20mph default speed limit was first applied. While the number of deaths on roads designated 20mph stayed constant at 19 in both 2024 and 2025, overall road fatalities rose again after an initial dip. Serious injury casualties increased to 1,361 in 2025, the highest figure since 2019.

Collisions on roads with 20mph and 30mph limits rose 2% to 1,469, though this remains the second-lowest annual total recorded. Compliance with the speed limit has slipped over time, with average speeds edging upward, though drivers still travel slower than before the policy. The Welsh Government has allocated an extra £5 million for councils to review and potentially revert sections of the 20mph limit back to 30mph.