New data has revealed that since the introduction of controversial 20mph speed limits in Wales last year, the number of road casualties has fallen.
In September 2023, the Welsh Government rolled out new plans to transform restricted roads - generally those in residential areas - to havew their speed limits dropped to 20mph.
The aim of the scheme was to boost road safety and make drivers think about how quickly they were going, especially on certain roads where there may be more vulnerable people.
Research has now found that the number of road casualties on 20mph and 30mph roads has dropped by 218, from 681 in 2022 to 463 in 2023.
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Drivers are being asked to tell their local councils about 20mph roads
PA
The October to December timeframe shows that the impact of the 20mph scheme has resulted in major safety benefits for all road users, no matter how unpopular the scheme was.
The total number of casualties on 20mph and 30mph roads in Q4 was also the lowest quarterly figure on record outside of periods dominated by COVID-related lockdowns.
In 2023, police forces around Wales reported a total of 3,262 road collisions, a decrease of 1.6 per cent compared to 2022 and a major drop of 24.7 per cent lower than 2019.
Ken Skates, Cabinet Secretary for North Wales and Transport, praised the outcome of the data, saying it was clear that the scheme was making a "clear difference".
He added: “The data published today clearly shows that casualties on 20mph and 30mph roads have reduced since the introduction of 20mph - the lowest on record outside the Covid pandemic period.
“We’ve still got a way to go, and we expect numbers to fluctuate over the next few years as drivers adjust to the new speed, but it’s encouraging to see that things are moving in the right direction. Every casualty reduced makes a real difference.
“The principal objective of the policy has always been to reduce casualties and help people feel safer in their communities and today’s data reinforces we’re on the way to achieving this."
He added that he was continuing his "listening programme" of hearing views from the Welsh public about the impact of the 20mph speed limit scheme.
It comes after the Welsh Government announced a U-turn on the controversial policy following massive backlash from drivers, resulting in a record-breaking petition gaining the support of more than 469,000 backers.
Skates said he was aware that the policy still needed to be "refined" to ensure the right speeds are on the right roads, with some having to revert back to 30mph.
He finished his address by calling on the Welsh public to share their views with the local council to tell them where 20mph speed limits should and should not be targeted.
More than 1,150 drivers were fined for speeding on 20mph roads across Wales in April, prompting Shadow Transport Minister Natasha Asghar to call it a "ridiculous law".
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The 20mph scheme sparked protests across the country
GETTYShe added: “The massive public opposition to this policy has only grown since its inception and these fines prove that despite Labour’s spin, 20mph is here to stay.
“The Welsh Conservatives would scrap this barmy policy and get Wales moving.”