In advance of the 2026 Senedd election, RoSPA has launched our Stronger, Safer Wales manifesto urging the next Welsh Government to take urgent action to reduce accidents in Wales. 

Wales is experiencing a sustained and worsening accidental death crisis, with fatalities rising by 43% over the last decade. Accidents now claim more than 1,200 lives annually in Wales, with a fatality rate 22% above the UK average.

Falls remain the leading cause of accidental death, while Wales also experiences significantly elevated risks from accidental poisonings, rural road collisions, machinery-related incidents and dog-related injuries. The consequences extend far beyond the human toll: preventable accidents cost the NHS billions, remove tens of thousands from the workforce, and disproportionately harm people in deprived communities. 

RoSPA is calling on the next Welsh Government to prioritise accident prevention as an urgent public health and economic issue. Published in both Welsh and English, our new Stronger, Safer Wales manifesto sets out evidence-led measures to reduce deaths and serious injuries across homes, roads, workplaces and water environments.  

Drawing on our work with the Welsh Government on initiatives such as Road Safety Wales and Water Safety Wales, we believe these measures will reduce preventable harm while easing pressure on overstretched public services. 

Road safety

• Empower local authorities to set safe speed limits, including continued use of 20mph zones where appropriate to protect pedestrians, cyclists and communities

• Introduce mandatory eyesight testing for all drivers every three years, tackling deteriorating vision as an under-recognised crash risk

• Improve road markings through a Safe System approach, including rollout of PRIME-style perceptual cues to reduce risks to motorcyclists on rural roads. 

Home and product safety

• Establish permanent national home safety programmes, including risk assessments, safety advice and essential equipment for vulnerable households 

• Mandate Safer by Design standards by embedding BS 53951 stair safety principles into Welsh building regulations for all new homes
• Strengthen product safety protections and public awareness to address rising risks from unsafe and counterfeit goods sold online. 
  

Leisure safety & drowning prevention 

• Endorse and support the next Wales Drowning Prevention Strategy (due July 2026) to sustain national progress

• Make classroom water safety education mandatory using Water Safety Wales and Welsh Government funded resources
• Require all local authorities to develop water safety policies to manage local risks and hazards effectively. 
  

Occupational safety and health

• A comprehensive study into the Welsh gig economy, examining scale, working conditions and fair compensation for work-related risks

• Development of transferable health and safety qualifications led by Sector Skills Councils to maintain safety standards as workers move between sectors

• Improved data sharing between Welsh police forces and the Health and Safety Executive via a formal Memorandum of Understanding for clearer referral criteria and timely evidence exchange. 

The rising accidental death rate is a major strategic challenge for Wales, affecting health, productivity, public services and inequality. Addressing it will require coordinated action across government, emergency services, local authorities and industry. Stronger, Safer Wales presents RoSPA’s solutions to keep people safe across Wales.