Police recorded road accidents: 2021

Police recorded road accident and casualty numbers throughout most of 2020 were affected by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic which saw restrictions on how, where and why people could travel within Wales. There was continued impact in 2021.

Main points

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• In 2021 police forces in Wales recorded a total of 3,288 road accidents, an increase of 416 (14.5%) compared to 2020 which was the lowest year on record.
• These road accidents in 2021 resulted in 4,348 personal injuries. Of these, 86 people were killed, 925 people were seriously injured and 3,337 ‘slight’ injuries were recorded.
• During 2021, over half of all road accidents (53%) occurred on 30mph roads with the next highest proportion (25%) occurring on 60mph roads. Road sections with a 20mph speed limit had the lowest proportion, accounting for 3% of all accidents.
• Looking at the long term trend, there has been an overall fall in personal injury road accidents recorded by police forces in Wales.
• In recent years, the number of accidents resulting in fatalities or serious injury has been relatively stable, with the overall decline in accidents accounted for by a continued fall in ‘slight’ injury accidents.