Ministers unveil plan to make Britain’s roads safer

The UK Government has unveiled a new Road Safety Strategy, the first in more than ten years , aiming to cut deaths and serious injuries on Britain’s roads by 65% by 2035.

The Department for Transport says the plan, launched today, Wednesday 7 January, could save thousands of lives by tackling the leading causes of collisions including speeding, drink and drug driving, and mobile phone use.

New consultations will be launched on a range of proposals, including a minimum learning period for learner drivers, mandatory eyesight tests for older motorists, and a potential reduction in the legal alcohol limit for driving.

The Government will also explore new technology such as alcohol interlock devices and expanded police powers to suspend driving licences for those suspected of drink or drug driving offences.

Secretary of State for Transport, Heidi Alexander, said: “Every life lost on our roads is a tragedy that devastates families and communities. For too long, progress on road safety has stalled. This strategy marks a turning point.

“We are taking decisive action to make our roads safer for everyone, from new drivers taking their first lessons to older motorists wanting to maintain their independence. The measures we are announcing today will save thousands of lives over the coming decade.”

Local Transport Minister, Lilian Greenwood, added: “Our vision with this ambitious Road Safety Strategy is clear: to ensure that people can travel safely on our roads however they choose.

“One of the hardest parts of my job is speaking to families who have lost loved ones on our roads and this is something we as a Government are taking action to prevent. No family should have to endure that loss, and this strategy sets out how we will work to ensure fewer do.”

Independent campaigner Meera Naran MBE, whose eight-year-old son Dev died in a road collision, welcomed the measures and the government’s commitment to “Dev’s Law”, adopting the EU’s General Safety Regulations into UK law.

Over the past decade, Britain has slipped from third to fourth in European road safety rankings, with 22 EU nations making faster progress in cutting fatalities.

The new plan seeks to reverse that trend using the internationally recognised “Safe System” approach, which accepts human error but designs roads, vehicles, and enforcement systems to prevent death and serious injury.

A new Road Safety Investigation Branch will be created to analyse collision data and inform prevention efforts. The plan also mandates 18 new in-vehicle safety technologies, including autonomous emergency braking and lane-keeping assistance, aligning UK standards with those in Europe.

Edmund King OBE, President of The AA, said: “This is a positively radical reframing of road safety which is long overdue. We commend the government for its wide-ranging and ambitious strategy and ambitious targets which we hope will save the lives of thousands of people.”

Nicholas Lyes, Policy and Standards Director at IAM RoadSmart, said: “After what can be described as a lost decade in terms of reducing the number of killed and seriously injured on the roads, we welcome the Government’s commitment to ambitious targets and robust policies to make our roads safer.”

A new Road Safety Board chaired by the Minister for Local Transport will oversee delivery, supported by an Expert Advisory Panel made up of local authorities, emergency services, and road safety organisations.

The strategy includes specific focus on high-risk groups such as motorcyclists, who account for 21% of road deaths despite representing just 1% of traffic, and children in deprived areas who face a fourfold higher pedestrian casualty rate.

A National Work-Related Road Safety Charter pilot will also be introduced, establishing a standard for employers whose staff drive or ride for work, covering all vehicle types including HGVs, vans, and e-cycles.

The Government says the success of the strategy will depend on collaboration between national and local authorities, businesses, and the public to ensure that “every journey starts and ends safely”.

Turning Point

The RAC has welcomed the Government’s new Road Safety Strategy, saying it represents a “turning point” in tackling deaths and serious injuries on Britain’s roads.

The motoring organisation said the new measures, including casualty reduction targets, tougher enforcement on uninsured drivers and consultations on drink driving, come after years of stalled progress.

RAC road safety spokesperson Rod Dennis said:

“We’ve long said the dial needs to be turned up when it comes to reducing road casualties, so we warmly welcome this strategy – and especially the reintroduction of casualty reduction targets, that were scrapped 16 years ago.

“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 four people are still killed and 76 seriously injured every single day. That’s an unacceptable number of lives being ruined or cut short.

“The strategy addresses many areas we know drivers are concerned about, including drink and drug-driving, ‘ghost’ plates and dazzling headlights. The inclusion of a commitment to consult on the use of alcohol interlocks for convicted drink-drivers – which are internationally proven to save lives – is particularly encouraging.”

Mr Dennis added that while the plan was ambitious, its success would depend on clear enforcement and driver awareness.

“It’s important to remember 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.”

On drink-driving, RAC head of policy Simon Williams said:

“Drivers tell us they strongly support more being done to cut the harm caused by drink and, increasingly, drug-drivers – and this includes reducing England’s drink-drive limit, with only one-in-five drivers thinking it should remain as it is.

“But given a lower limit is unlikely to deter those people who are intent on driving while impaired, the commitment to investigate the benefits of alcolocks is an equally significant step forward in making the roads safer.”

Mr Williams also welcomed government plans to tackle “ghost” number plates designed to evade camera detection, describing the issue as “an increasingly serious problem” requiring tighter production standards and higher scrutiny of suppliers.

The RAC further supported measures to crack down on uninsured drivers, a group it says drives up insurance costs for law-abiding motorists.

“Every law-abiding driver pays more for their motor insurance because they end up having to bear the cost of collisions involving uninsured drivers,” Mr Williams said.

Other elements of the strategy were also praised, including new efforts to improve road safety for young and older drivers.

Mr Dennis said: “The tragic statistics speak for themselves – young drivers are involved in a disproportionately high number of fatal and serious collisions. The more preparation new drivers have, the safer they should be when they take to the roads on their own.”

He added that introducing black-box telematics insurance for new drivers could “help encourage safer habits and potentially lower costs for those who drive responsibly.”

The RAC has also voiced support for government action on headlight glare and seatbelt enforcement, both listed as persistent safety concerns among UK drivers.

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