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Welsh government figures for April to June 2026 record 15 serious cyclist injuries, down from 28 in the same quarter of 2023, before the default 20mph limit was introduced. Across all road users, collisions and casualties also fell compared with both the same quarter in 2025 and 2023. The figures show a decline over time but do not, by themselves, establish that the speed-limit policy caused it.
Welsh government figures show 15 cyclists were seriously injured in road collisions between April and June 2026, down from 28 in the same quarter of 2023, before Wales introduced its default 20mph speed limit on most urban and residential roads. The latest figures also record fewer collisions and casualties across Wales than in the equivalent periods of 2025 and 2023, though the comparison alone does not prove the limit caused the declines.
There were 45 reported collisions involving cyclists in April–June 2026, compared with 78 in the same quarter of 2023. The 2026 quarter recorded no cyclist deaths, while 15 riders sustained serious injuries. The source report describes the serious-injury figure as roughly 50% lower than in 2023; the reported counts are 28 and 15.
Across all road users, the government says collisions in Wales were 19% lower and casualties 20% lower in April–June 2026 than in April–June 2025. Compared with April–June 2023, collisions involving road users on 20mph and 30mph roads were down 37%, and casualties were down 35%. The government said the casualty figure was a record low for a year outside the Covid pandemic.
Deputy Minister for Transport Mark Hooper said the latest figures were “extremely encouraging” and offered “more evidence that the 20mph default speed limit is helping to make our roads safer.” He also said the government would continue monitoring the trends as part of its evaluation of the policy.
Fewer Injuries on Welsh Roads
The figures concern the safety of people walking, cycling and driving, and the policy has changed speed limits across a substantial part of Wales. A decline in reported collisions and serious injuries is relevant to residents, road users and local authorities weighing the effects of the limit. For cyclists in particular, the comparison shows fewer serious injuries and collisions in the latest quarter than in the equivalent quarter before the policy began.
However, the data describe changes over time, not a controlled test of the policy. Other influences on collisions—including traffic levels, enforcement, road design and reporting—are not set out in the supplied figures. The results are an indicator in the government’s ongoing evaluation, rather than proof that the 20mph limit alone produced the change.
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How Wales Changed Its Speed Limits
Wales introduced the default 20mph limit in September 2023 on urban and residential roads where the previous limit was generally 30mph. The change applied to about 35% of Welsh roads, expanding the length of roads with a 20mph limit from approximately 870 kilometres to 13,000 kilometres, according to the source report.
The then Welsh government said the policy aimed to reduce deaths and serious injuries, address pollution and encourage walking and cycling. The change drew strong political criticism. In April 2024, the government announced that councils could return some roads to 30mph on a case-by-case basis in response to local circumstances and demand.
Hooper has acknowledged that the policy was not sufficiently explained to the public before it was introduced. In comments to road.cc earlier in 2026, he said the government “delivered the policy then tried to socialise it after.” His remarks reflect debate over how the measure was communicated; they do not alter the collision counts in the latest release.
“These latest figures are extremely encouraging and provide more evidence that the 20mph default speed limit is helping to make our roads safer.”
— Mark Hooper, Welsh Deputy Minister for Transport
What the Figures Cannot Establish
The figures supplied do not explain why collisions and casualties declined, or isolate the effect of the 20mph limit from other factors. They also cover a single three-month period for the latest cyclist counts. The source material does not provide details about traffic exposure, enforcement levels, road-by-road changes or the methods used to classify serious injuries.
The reported figures are collision and casualty counts, not rates adjusted for how much people travelled. It is not clear from the material how many councils have restored 30mph limits under the case-by-case process, or how those changes may affect comparisons. The government says the policy remains under evaluation; the full scope and timing of further analysis are not specified here.
Welsh Policy Evaluation Continues
The Welsh government says it will continue monitoring road-safety trends as part of its ongoing evaluation of the default 20mph policy. Further quarterly figures and fuller evaluation findings may help show whether the decline persists and how it varies across road types and areas. The supplied report does not identify a date for the next release or set out a further milestone.
Local councils retain the ability to consider restoring 30mph limits on selected roads on a case-by-case basis. Any future assessment of the overall policy will need to account for those local decisions alongside the reported collision and casualty trends.
Key Questions
How many cyclists were seriously injured in Wales in April–June 2026?
The figures record 15 serious cyclist injuries in that three-month period, compared with 28 in April–June 2023.
Were any cyclists killed in the latest quarter?
The source report says no cyclist deaths were recorded in Wales between April and June 2026.
Did road casualties fall compared with 2025?
Yes. The Welsh government reported 20% fewer casualties and 19% fewer collisions across all roads in April–June 2026 than in the same three months of 2025.
Do these figures prove the 20mph limit caused the decline?
No. They show lower counts in the periods compared, but the supplied figures do not separate the policy’s effect from other possible factors or establish causation.
Can Welsh councils change a road back to 30mph?
Yes. Since an announcement in April 2024, councils have been able to consider restoring the previous 30mph limit on selected roads on a case-by-case basis.
Source: road.cc
