The final month of Parliament before the summer recess began included lots of important transport safety content. Top things to look out for in this update include debates on speed cameras and road safety powers, devolution legislation with potential impacts in the transport safety space and announcements on active travel.
Debates, questions and statements in Parliament
24/06/25 – House of Commons adjournment debate on the criteria for speed camera installation
This debate was attended by seven MPs including the Minister for the Future of Roads. Lisa Smart MP, who tabled the debate, delivered the message that people should not have to die or be seriously injured before something is done about dangerous speeding. She also called for three asks; to take a proactive approach to camera installation, that the guidance is updated to reflect this approach and to make it easier for local communities to get cameras when they identify risks.
26/06/25 – House of Commons transport questions
As has been consistent recently, safety was part of the agenda for questions to transport ministers. It was referenced in questions about the condition of roads in MPs constituencies, the responses provided by the Government focused on additional funding and the need to hold councils to account.
The safety of taxi services was also mentioned in a question about licensing. The Government have committed to taking legislative action to close the loopholes in the current licensing regime to achieve higher standards of safety across the board.
The Cycling and Walking APPG report ‘Unregulated and Unsafe: The Threat of Illegal E-Bikes’ was discussed, the Minister for Local Transport, Simon Lightwood, said he is studying the report in detail.
30/06/25 – House of Commons adjournment the debate on road safety powers of parish and town councils
This debate drew a large attendance with twenty MPs involved. The main focus of the discussion centred around communities feeling like their concerns around road safety are not listened to.
Sam Rushworth, the MP who tabled the debate, wants parish councils to have more power in road decision making, such as being able to set their own speed limits. He urged the Government to consider this through primary legislation, or to provide stronger statutory consultative powers so that they can force a review of speed limits, and stronger powers to appeal decisions.
The Government said it has no plans to devolve powers to parish councils. However, the Minister for the Future of Roads, Lilian Greenwood, did cite the Safe System in her address to the debate. She outlined that collisions at high speeds are much more likely to have tragic outcomes, and how this helps to argue the case for reducing speed limits in particular circumstances.
07/07/25 – Home Office Oral Questions
Nick Smith MP asked a question on the anti-social use of off-road bikes, noting that this is a problem not limited to off-road bikes but also illegally modified e-bikes. The Minister for Policing and Crime Prevention outlined that the Crime and Policing Bill will mean officers will no longer be required to issue a warning before they seize a bike that is being used antisocially.
14/07/25 – House of Commons adjournment debate on the condition of roads in Cheshire
Aphra Brandreth MP, an officer in the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Transport Safety, tabled this debate. She believes there should be a proactive rather than reactive approach to road maintenance and thinks this would be a more efficient usage of public money. Additionally, the idea of trusting local knowledge was brought up again, this is a theme that is regularly being brought up in safety debates.
14/07/25 – House of Lords statement on road and rail projects
The Rail Minister Lord Hendy provided an update on road and rail projects that will be funded by the Government. Liberal Democrat Peer Baroness Pidgeon, who is an officer in the Transport Safety APPG, spoke of how a safe and reliable transport system is vital for economic growth.
15/07/25 – Westminster Hall Debate on the future of the West Coast Mainline
The Minister for the Future of Roads, Lilian Greenwood MP, spoke of how the Government aim for Great British Railways to deliver a unified system that focuses on reliable, affordable, high quality and efficient services, alongside ensuring safety and accessibility. Olly Glover MP, who is also a Liberal Democrat mentioned that a safe, reliable transport system is vital for economic prosperity. Safe and reliable transport being vital to economic growth is a theme being adopted by Liberal Democrat members in recent parliamentary activity.
17/07/25 – House of Lords short debate on plans to create a national accident prevention strategy, as set out in the report by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, ‘Safer Lives, Stronger Nation: Our call for a National Accident Prevention Strategy’
This debate references a report published in November 2024, which outlines how accident response is fragmented across several different Government departments, which is currently a problem. Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb made the important point that road collisions should not be referred to as ‘accidents’.
22/07/25 – The Sir David Amess summer adjournment debate (House of Commons)
This debate has become an annual occurrence, where MPs are given the opportunity to speak about any topics they would like to, typically covering multiple focus areas in their speeches. Transport safety was raised on several occasions, with topics such as step free access at railway stations, cross-border taxi licensing, safer streets with cleaner air, rural road safety and issues around community involvement in improving road safety raised. Six of the roughly 30 MPs involved explicitly spoke about transport safety.
National and devolved government announcements
02/07/25 – Regional mayor’s national active travel network
Eleven of England’s regional mayors have come together to pledge the delivery of a national active travel network to give healthier and greener travel options to millions across the nation. They plan to deliver an initial 3,500 miles of safer routes to schools, shops and high streets, workplaces and transport hubs
11/07/25 – Junior active travel inspectors
The DfT has announced a new scheme to introduce junior active travel inspectors at primary schools. Schoolchildren will be able to sign up and help to assess the quality of active travel routes to schools, there will also be an app to record this information on.
Legislation
10/07/25 – English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill
This Bill contains measures aimed at regulating on-street micromobility services. Initially, this will cover shared cycles and e-cycles but may be extended to encompass other micromobility services in the future. The Bill also contains measures that will change legislation on roads, including providing Strategic Authorities with the power to take on civil enforcement powers for road traffic contraventions in their geographic areas.
