The government has recently published its anticipated Road Safety Strategy, which aims to build a safer future for all UK road users.
The new strategy provides detail on themes through which the government seeks to improve road safety in Britain. The themes are:
- Theme 1: Supporting road users
- Theme 2: Taking advantage of technology, data and innovation for safer vehicles and post collision care
- Theme 3: Ensuring infrastructure is safe
- Theme 4: Robust enforcement to protect all road users
Statistics show that approximately four people die on the roads in Britain every day. The government's key aim is to reduce deaths and serious injuries on Britain’s roads by 65% by 2035 and by 70% for children under 16. The launch of this strategy marks the first new Road Safety Strategy in more than a decade.
Over the past decade, 22 European countries have made more progress than the UK in reducing road fatalities, causing Britain to slip from third to fourth in European road safety rankings. It is clear that the government's focus is on rectifying this. They state that ''rather than placing responsibility solely on individual drivers, the system ensures that road design, vehicle safety, enforcement, and education work together to protect all road users''.
The strategy describes itself as ''a call to action: to work together to reduce casualties and improve safety on roads in Great Britain. By making the roads safer, everyone benefits''.
The key developments
The strategy provides detail on a broad range of changes. We have provided a summary of 10 of the key proposals below.
1. Supporting learner drivers
A consultation will be launched introducing a three or six month minimum learning period for learner drivers. The government is consulting on a lower blood alcohol limit for novice drivers.
2. Drink driving
A consultation will be launched on lowering the drink drive limit in England and Wales, which has remained unchanged since 1967 and is currently the highest in Europe. The consultation will explore the use of preventative technology, such as alcohol interlock devices and new powers to suspend driving licences for those suspected of drink or drug driving offences. The figures show that in 2023, 1 in 6 road fatalities involved drink driving, so this is a key area of focus for the government.
3. Eye tests for the over 70s
A further consultation will be launched on mandatory eyesight testing for the over 70s, and options for cognitive testing will also be developed to protect all road users. The government will continue to work closely with the National Police Chiefs’ Council to highlight the importance of regular police roadside eyesight tests for all drivers. Those drivers who fail to meet the minimum eyesight standards required for driving will have their driving licence revoked by DVLA.
4. Road Safety Investigation Branch
A new data-led Road Safety Investigation Branch will be introduced which will analyse collision patterns to inform prevention strategies, drawing on linked police and healthcare data to identify root causes and target interventions more effectively.
5. Vehicle technologies
There will be mandates for 18 new vehicle safety technologies for specific vehicle categories, including autonomous emergency braking and lane-keeping assistance, ensuring drivers and road users in Great Britain benefit from access to cutting-edge technologies. Collaboration with a range of stakeholders to maximise the safety benefits of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) technologies such as advanced emergency braking, blind spot information, and adaptive distraction warning will take place. Businesses will need to evaluate these requirements and consider whether company or fleet vehicles need to be fitted with devices. Drivers may also need to be trained to use new devices appropriately. There will also be a focus on making a secure linkage of police-recorded collision data and healthcare data a shared policy priority between the DfT, NHS England and the DHSC.
6. Road Safety Board
A new Road Safety Board chaired by the Minister for Local Transport, will oversee delivery of the strategy. The board will be supported by an expert advisory panel including members from local authorities, emergency services, active travel groups, and road safety organisations.
7. National Work-Related Road Safety Charter pilot
With an estimated 1 in 3 people driving for work, the strategy will also focus on this aspect of road risk. A National Work-Related Road Safety Charter pilot will be launched which will cover HGVs, vans, cars, motorcycles, e-cycles, and cycles. The Charter will be developed in collaboration with business and industry, and will be informed by existing schemes such as National Highways’ Driving for Better Business programme, Transport for London’s (TfL) Meal and grocery delivery motorcycle road safety charter, DVSA’s (Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency) ‘Earned Recognition’ Scheme and the TyreSafe programme. The pilot will run for two years and will be monitored and fully evaluated and regulatory measures will be considered if engagement is insufficient in reducing work-related road risk. This will be key for a wide range of businesses in the public and private sectors. It will be important for transport businesses to consider these changes carefully, a review of business policies and procedures relating to driver alcohol testing may be required to ensure compliance with any changes and with any new reporting requirements.
8. Vulnerable road users
The strategy also focuses on vulnerable road users such as motorcyclists who account for just 1% of motor vehicle traffic but 21% of road deaths. Children from deprived neighbourhoods will also be a key focus as they face 4 times the pedestrian casualty rate of those in the least deprived areas. Consultations on reforms to motorcycle training, testing and licensing and supporting trials to improve motorcycle safety on rural roads, will be launched to address these disparities. Support will also be introduced for victims of road traffic collisions. The MoJ will consult on a new Victims’ Code in due course to ensure that the foundations for victims are right.
9. Robust enforcement to protect all road users
There will be a consultation on taking tougher action on drink driving by lowering the drink drive limit in England and Wales, including an even lower limit for novice drivers. A review of penalties and mandatory training for drink and drug driving offences will take place. New powers will be considered to suspend the driving licence for those suspected of committing a drink and/or drug driving offence, or those under investigation for the most serious motoring offences resulting in a fatality or serious injury, until attendance at court. There will also be consideration of penalties for failure to wear a seat belts and those who fail to stop and report collisions. A further consultation will take place on addressing illegal number plates.
10. Lifelong learning for road users
‘Lifelong Learning’ refers to education which helps to build safer road behaviours, however, there is no official UK guidance on developing and delivering road safety education and no single body in the UK who coordinates the full spectrum of road safety education. To support a Lifelong Learning approach in the UK, the government will publish national guidance on the development and delivery of road safety education, training and publicity. Businesses will need to ensure that driver training aligns with any government changes.
The government has stated that collaboration will be key and the success of the strategy will depend on strong partnerships between government, local authorities, businesses, road safety professionals, emergency services, and the public working together to ensure that every journey starts and ends safely.
The RAC has welcomed the launch of the strategy and the focus on reducing road casualties. RAC road safety spokesperson, Rod Dennis, said: ''the simple truth is that this strategy can’t come soon enough. Britain might have some of the safest roads by international standards, but on average, 4 people are still killed and 76 seriously injured every single day. That’s an unacceptable number of lives being ruined or cut short''.
The RAC has also highlighted the importance of awareness and the need for quick action which builds on the momentum of this strategy, commenting; ''the ultimate success of any new or updated penalties or laws will depend on awareness among drivers and enforcement. But undoubtedly, this strategy is a real chance to give the whole topic of road safety the focus and public attention it deserves. What we need now is for it to quickly evolve into a set of concrete actions that make the roads safer for everyone''.
We will bring you further developments as they happen.
