Written question WQ89123
- Asked by
- Andrew RT DaviesConservative
- To be answered by
- Minister for Climate Change
- Tabled
- Due
- Answered
- Time to answer
- 7 days
Question
Will the Minister provide the evidence used from Spain's reduction in speed limit from 2019 onwards that justifies the decision to lower the national speed limit from 30mph to 20mph, considering the news that Spain closed 2022 with substantially more road deaths than in 2021?
Answer
Answered by Deputy Minister for Climate Change
In Spain a new maximum speed of 30km/h (18.6mph) on the majority of roads came into force on 11 May 2021. The most recent data from Spain is available at Avance-de-las-cifr.... It shows that:
• Fatalities on urban roads overall were 519 in 2019, 417 in 2021 and 476 in 2022. This represents 20% fewer deaths on urban roads in 2021 compared to 2019, and 8% fewer deaths on urban roads in 2022 compared to 2019.
• Pedestrian fatalities on urban roads were 247 in 2019, 183 in 2021 and 214 in 2022. This represents 26% fewer pedestrian deaths on urban roads in 2021 compared to 2019, and 13% fewer pedestrian deaths on urban roads in 2022 compared to 2019.
• Cyclists killed on urban roads were 32 in 2019, 21 in 2021 and 21 in 2022. This represents a 34% reduction in the number of cyclists killed on urban roads in both 2021 and 2022 compared to 2019.
The year 2019 is used as a baseline rather than 2020, due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. The annual data is quite volatile, and it is therefore important to consider the figures over the longer term.
The experience from Spain is just one of a range of sources of evidence we used in the development of the 20mph policy. Other sources include learning from around the UK (Bristol, Edinburgh, Scottish Borders, London and the eight trial areas in Wales) as well as from the Netherlands, Sweden, Germany, Finland and the US.
In addition, a public health study estimated that the 20mph default speed limit in Wales could result in 40% fewer collisions – six to 10 lives saved and 1,200 to 2,000 people avoiding injury every year, with annual casualty reduction savings of £92m.