We welcome the UK Government’s publication of the first national Road Safety Strategy in more than a decade. With nearly 30,000 people losing their lives or suffering life-changing injuries on our roads each year, the road safety community stands ready to help ensure that this strategy delivers meaningful and lasting change. Preventing these tragedies will not only spare families and friends’ profound loss but will also reduce the significant social and economic costs borne by the country.
Before the general election, more than 100 organisations united to call on all political parties to adopt a targeted, prioritised, and achievable action plan to reverse the current stagnation in road safety performance (see Manifesto for Road Safety). The Government has previously committed to that call, and this strategy represents an important step towards honouring that promise.
A key outcome of today’s publication will be renewed collaboration between national and local government, industry, researchers, campaigners, and communities. Working together, we can maximise the impact of the strategy and improve safety for every road user.
A strategic response to road trauma is essential to delivering the Government’s broader ambitions. Road collisions cost the NHS an estimated £3 billion each year and impose a wider annual societal cost of £55 billion—around 2% of GDP. Safer travel reduces carbon emissions and opens up fairer access to education, employment, and social participation. Meanwhile, new technologies, including artificial intelligence, can expand mobility options, increase independence, bolster productivity, and help create safer streets.
It is encouraging to see the strategy recognise the need for consistent action across four critical areas:
- A national strategy underpinned by ambitious targets, focused on prevention, protection, and post-collision response
The inclusion of clear and ambitious targets (65% reduction of KSIs and 70% reductions in the number of child KSIs by 2035) is strongly welcomed. Targets signal commitment, and international evidence shows they help drive real reductions in deaths and serious injuries. Progress in the UK has plateaued since 2010, and we have fallen behind other leading nations. Aligning with the globally recognised Safe System approach—endorsed by the United Nations—is therefore essential to achieving systemic, sustainable improvements. - Establishing a Road Safety Investigation Branch to learn from incidents and prevent future tragedies
A dedicated Road Safety Investigation Branch (RSIB) represents a major step forward. Systemic, independent learning has long been the norm in other transport sectors; it is overdue on the roads. To be effective, the RSIB must be empowered to investigate for cause and learning rather than blame. We look forward to supporting the Government in designing the RSIB and ensuring it evolves in line with best practice from other safety investigation bodies. - Reviewing the licensing regime to protect young and newly qualified drivers
Young drivers remain disproportionately at risk. In Great Britian drivers aged 17 – 24 represent only 6% of licence holders, yet they were involved in 24% of KSIs. Evidence from around the world shows that a progressive licensing system—with minimum learning periods, stronger training and testing, and targeted restrictions—can reduce casualties by 20–40%. Public backing for reform is strong: recent research from the Road Safety Trust shows that 72% of British adults support a phased licensing system. The Government has recognised the importance of this at-risk group and the consulting on the minimum learning period is welcomed. We will continue to advocate for a comprehensive review of the licensing and testing regime as Parliament considers next steps on the additional measures needed to Protect Young Drivers as this will be a key area to address to deliver the overarching target of a 65% reduction of KSIs. - Ensuring all new vehicles are equipped with proven, life-saving technologies
The UK has been a global leader in evaluating advanced vehicle safety features, and the proposed consultation on the 18 new safety technologies for vehicles is vital to the success of the strategy. Because the safety benefits increase as the vehicle fleet turns over, early regulation is essential. Decisive action would restore the UK to its place among the world leaders in vehicle safety.
The strategy contains many further commitments that will require detailed work before they can be translated into legislation, regulation, and local delivery. We look forward to working constructively with Government, Parliamentarians, and all stakeholders to ensure that this strategy puts the UK firmly back on the path towards safer roads, stronger communities, and many lives saved from harm.
Andy MacNae MP, President of PACTS, says:
‘Every road death is an avoidable tragedy, yet 30,000 people die or are seriously injured on our roads every year, a figure that has hardly changed since 2010. This Government has now stepped up, listened to our communities and addressed this challenge head on. This ambitious strategy, with clear targets that draw on proven best practice, aims to save over 19,000 people from death or serious injury a year by 2035 and I am proud to support it.’
Joy Allen, County Durham & Darlington Police and Crime Commissioner, says:
‘This strategy is a welcome step forward and reflects years of calls from bereaved families, campaigners and road safety professionals to take road harm more seriously.
The real test now will be delivery. Consultations on measures such as lower drink-drive limits, tougher action on drug driving and swift sanctions for the most dangerous offenders must be firmly grounded in evidence and backed by sufficient funding for education and enforcement, if we are to deter dangerous drivers, save lives and prevent serious injuries.’
Dan Campsall, Chair of the PACTS Board of Trustees, says:
‘After years of stagnation, we asked Government to deliver a new road safety strategy with ambitious targets and commitments to improve vehicle safety standards, licensing for young drivers and a dedicated investigation branch – today we have that strategy. There is clearly more detail to be worked out through a process of consultation and implementation, but we have turned a page and look forward to a safer future on our roads.’
Jamie Hassall, Executive Director of PACTS, says:
‘PACTS called on the new government to deliver a new road safety strategy and asked for four key areas to be addressed. I’m pleased to see all four areas have been covered and that the inclusion of stretching targets and a dedicated Road Safety Investigation Branch puts us on a path to reduce the road harm and save thousands of lives.’
