21 Aug 2025 |

PACTS Online Conference: Changing Behaviours – Reducing Road Risk

Join us online on Thursday 20th November 2025 for our online Autumn Conference on Changing Behaviours – Reducing Road Risk. 

It’s free to join – register now!

Agenda (access the full conference programme here)

Why do we need to change behaviour and whose needs changing?

The conference will focus on the current thinking on changing behaviours to reduce road risk with a focus on two key groups: young/novice drivers and those that drive for work (ranging from the occasional user driving to a meeting through to those that driving is the core element of their work). 

We will explore the current research on behaviour change, current projects and intervention and the benefits of a joined up multi-pronged approach to influence positive behavioural change. National Highways will share new skills and behaviours they want to see post collision to reduce the likelihood of serious harm and death.

Changing the behaviour of the driver remains a key focus but changing the behaviours of those responsible for drivers or who can influence them is also key. 

We need to move away from a system that depends on driver compliance and enforcement to one where the risks are removed or mitigated. We know that vans kill the most per mile travelled (see PACTS report) and that speed compliance is poor (a key factor in likelihood of a crash and the severity of the injuries) according to DfT figures for LGV in free flow conditions compliance is around 50% in 30mph zones with 5% going 10mph over the limit.  How to we change the behaviour of those responsible of drivers to better manage the behaviour or the opportunity for drivers to get it wrong.

There will also be an opportunity to submit your questions to the panel about behaviour change and those behaviours we should be changing. 

Evidence / Background

Where possible we need have a system where drivers can’t make mistakes and where this can’t be achieved, we need to ensure that drivers know what they should be doing, have the skills needed to do it and the right motivation to ensure that is what they do.

Using the safe system, we should be removing the elements of risk or ensuring other parts of the system will protect the driver and other road users.

What percentage of crashes is driver error a factor? It could be up to 95% with up to 65% where it is the main cause.

Common Mistakes:

• • Distractions: Use of mobile phones or in-car entertainment systems.
  • Misjudgements: Failing to estimate the speed or distance of other vehicles accurately.
  • Inappropriate Actions: Sudden lane changes without signalling or unnecessary speeding.

Top Causes of UK Road Collisions (2013-2022 average):

1. 1. Driver/rider error or reaction – 67.26%
   2. Driver/rider failed to look properly – 37.81%
   3. Behaviour or inexperience – 23.61%
   4. Injudicious action – 21.86%
   5. Driver/rider failed to judge another person’s path or speed – 20.06%
   6. Careless, reckless driving or being in a hurry – 16.38%
   7. Impairment or distraction – 15.22%
   8. Road environment contributed – 12.89%
   9. Poor turn or manoeuvre – 12.74%
   10. Loss of control – 12.50%

Join us on 20th November as we seek to answer some of these questions, focus on existing research and look to further the discussion about what can be done.