Speeding Fears Grow on Cardiff’s Paget Street After Girl’s Crash

Key Points

• Milly Begum, then 11 years old, was hit by a car 12 years ago while crossing Paget Street in Grangetown, Cardiff, suffering severe headaches and memory loss ever since.
• Milly, now 22, attributes her ongoing health issues, including hydrocephalus diagnosed months later, to the collision.
• Her mother, Shefah Begum, moved the family to Paget Street in 2002; residents have long complained about speeding traffic and multiple crashes.
• Speed limit reduced from 30mph to 20mph despite a primary school at the street’s end, but Shefah alleges speeding has worsened over 20 years.
• Cardiff Council 2024 speed data: average 23.7mph (southbound 26mph, northbound 22mph); residents claim speeds up to 60mph.
• South Wales Police reported three collisions in Paget Street in 2025: May 29 (two vehicles, minor injuries), September 21 (two vehicles, one minor injury), October 30 (car hit multiple parked cars).
• Shefah hears car alarms day and night, avoids parking on the street fearing damage.
• Cardiff Council installed vehicle-activated speed (VAS) sign; states road does not meet enforcement criteria, suggests stopping through traffic as long-term fix but deems it costly.
• GoSafe conducted speed survey in February 2024 (data to June 2025), site did not meet criteria then; new survey planned.
• Shefah relives accident: heard scream and tyres screeching during school run; Milly hit suddenly with car bonnet in her face.
• Milly had grazes only, attended school and doctor same day; headaches started months later, collapsed 10 months post-accident into intensive care.
• Doctors diagnosed hydrocephalus (fluid build-up on brain); told Shefah to say goodbye as Milly unconscious with eyes taped; cause not confirmed but Shefah insists normal development pre-crash.
• Treatments: fluid drained, unsuccessful bypass, then permanent shunt fitted a week later.
• Ongoing impacts: daily headaches/migraines, anxiety, poor memory, multitasking issues, trauma preventing road crossing for years; missed summer graduation but graduated university in November 2025.

Grangetown (Cardiff Daily) February 08, 2026 – Milly Begum was just 11 when she was struck by a car on Paget Street in Grangetown, Cardiff, an incident 12 years ago that has left her battling severe headaches and memory loss. Now 22, Milly links her condition, including a diagnosis of hydrocephalus, directly to the crash, amid ongoing resident complaints about speeding traffic on the street where her family has lived since 2002. Despite a reduced 20mph limit near a primary school, Cardiff Council data shows averages exceeding it, with three police-reported collisions in 2025 alone.

What Happened to Milly Begum 12 Years Ago?

As detailed in the original WalesOnline report, Milly Begum was walking across Paget Street as usual when a car “came out of nowhere”. She recounted: “One minute I’m crossing the road, the next I am on the floor with people around me. It was so sudden and I was thinking: ‘Why are people around me?’ It was so sudden – I looked to the right and the car bonnet was in my face. I didn’t know what to think. I was in shock.”​

Her mother, Shefah Begum, a mum-of-three and foster parent, relived the moment during a school run. As reported by WalesOnline, Shefah said she was getting her children into the car when she heard her youngest daughter scream and the screech of car tyres. “I turned around but you don’t think it’s going to be your daughter on the floor – my head was spinning.”​

Milly sustained only a few grazes on her knees, with no other visible injuries. She attended school that day and visited doctors later, who deemed her fine. However, severe headaches began in the following months, which Milly says she never experienced before.

Why Did Milly’s Condition Worsen After the Accident?

Ten months post-collision, Milly fell unconscious and was rushed to intensive care. As per the WalesOnline account, Shefah recalls doctors telling her to say goodbye to her daughter, who lay on the bed with her eyes taped up. Multiple tests revealed hydrocephalus, an abnormal build-up of fluid on the brain causing increased pressure and potential damage.​

Doctors could not confirm the collision caused it, but Shefah insists Milly’s development was normal beforehand, with symptoms only emerging after. Fluid was drained, followed by a hydrocephalus bypass to create a new drainage pathway, but it failed. A week later, a permanent shunt was fitted to drain the fluid.​

How Has the Accident Impacted Milly’s Life Today?

Milly, now 22, described daily headaches as “the norm”, escalating to migraines that disrupt her life. As quoted in WalesOnline, she said: “Headaches are the norm to me now. They are every day. Obviously it’s frustrating. It’s affecting my daily life as the headaches turn into migraines. I’m constantly anxious, forgetting things, I can’t multitask, and I get overwhelmed easily. My memory is really bad. I can’t even remember what happened yesterday without pictures or things written down.”​

The trauma left her “traumatised”, unable to cross roads—especially Paget Street—for years. “I was very scared to cross the road, especially Paget Street. I would have to go around because I avoided crossing the road. I was too scared,” she stated. These issues have affected her social life, education, work, and mental health. Milly missed her summer graduation due to worsening hospitalisation but graduated from university in Cardiff in November 2025.​

What Are Residents’ Complaints About Paget Street?

Shefah Begum moved her family to Paget Street, Grangetown, in 2002. Residents, including the Begums, have complained about speeding traffic, with multiple crashes yearly. Shefah alleges that although the speed limit dropped from 30mph to 20mph—with a primary school at the end—the problem has “gradually got[ten] worse” over 20 years.​

She often hears car alarms day and night, fearing to park in front of her home. “I don’t park it on the street anymore. The cars are rushing around here. They bump into the cars and I don’t want to lose my car,” she told WalesOnline. Residents believe cars exceed 30mph, some reaching 60mph.​

What Do Official Speed Data and Collision Records Show?

Cardiff Council speed data from 2024 indicated an average of 23.7mph on Paget Street, with southbound traffic at 26mph and northbound at 22mph.​

South Wales Police informed WalesOnline of three 2025 collisions:

• May 29, approximately 6pm: two-vehicle collision, both drivers minor injuries, no arrests.
• September 21, approximately 4.30pm: two-vehicle collision, one driver minor injury, no arrests.
• October 30, 5.55pm: car collided with multiple parked cars.​

What Measures Has Cardiff Council Taken?

A Cardiff Council spokesman stated: “The council regularly receives reports of speeding across the city. Due to the number of locations given, and limited funding from Welsh Government, installing traffic calming measures everywhere isn’t practical or affordable. The speed limit is 20mph and we urge all drivers to follow it.”​

They installed a vehicle-activated speed (VAS) sign to remind motorists. “Speed enforcement is the responsibility of the police. Based on current data Paget Street does not meet their criteria for enforcement and there have been no recent injury collisions in recent years.” For further reduction, “the most effective long-term option would be to stop through traffic on Paget Street, preventing it from being used as a shortcut from Penarth Road. However this could require costly changes to nearby junctions, may not qualify for grant funding or in fact reduce vehicle speeds down to 20mph.”​

What Is GoSafe’s Stance on Enforcement?

In October 2025, a GoSafe spokesman told WalesOnline: “GoSafe have been made aware of speeding concerns on Paget Street, Cardiff. A speed survey was carried out by Cardiff highways in February 2024 and the data was supplied to GoSafe in June 2025. This data showed that the site did not need the enforcement criteria at that time. However a further speed survey is due to be conducted to obtain current data. We will continue to work closely with the highways authority and local residents.”​

Why Has Speeding Persisted Despite Changes?

The street’s use as a shortcut from Penarth Road exacerbates issues, per council comments. Limited funding hampers widespread calming measures citywide. Police data shows no recent injury collisions meeting enforcement thresholds, though minor incidents continue. Residents like Shefah maintain conditions have deteriorated, heightening fears near homes and school.​

This story, drawn comprehensively from the WalesOnline coverage by their journalists, highlights persistent community safety concerns in Grangetown. No additional media titles reported this specific incident as of February 2026, based on available records.