The Government has announced a comprehensive new road safety strategy aimed at dramatically reducing fatalities and serious injuries on Britain’s roads over the next decade. The plan sets a target to cut overall road deaths and serious injuries by 65% by 2035, with an even more ambitious goal of reducing child fatalities by 70%.
Every day, roughly four people lose their lives in road accidents across Britain, with thousands more enduring serious injuries. The new plan seeks to tackle key factors including drink driving, speeding, mobile phone use, and seat belt non-compliance through stricter enforcement and innovative measures.
In a significant development, the Government will consult on lowering the legal blood alcohol limit in England and Wales—the highest in Europe since 1967—and explore the use of alcohol interlock devices to prevent repeat offenders from driving under the influence. Drivers caught drink or drug driving could face licence suspensions and mandatory installation of these prevention devices.
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Young, inexperienced drivers are another major risk group. Despite only holding 6% of licences, drivers aged 17-24 are responsible for 24% of fatal and serious collisions. To improve their skills and safety, a minimum learning period of three to six months is being considered, allowing learner drivers to gain experience in challenging conditions like nighttime driving and adverse weather.
Recognizing the aging driving population, the plan also proposes mandatory eyesight tests for drivers aged over 70, with future consideration of cognitive testing to ensure older drivers remain safe on the roads.
The strategy addresses emerging issues like illegal number plates designed to evade detection, as well as cracking down on uninsured vehicles and those without valid MOT certificates.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander emphasized the critical need for action: “Each life lost on our roads is a devastating tragedy. This strategy marks a turning point and will save thousands of lives by making roads safer for everyone—from new learners to older drivers.”
Similarly, Local Transport Minister Lilian Greenwood highlighted the human cost behind the statistics, pledging to work across sectors to eliminate preventable road deaths.
The plan incorporates the internationally accepted Safe System approach, which recognizes that human error is unavoidable but that deaths and serious injuries are not. This holistic method integrates safer road designs, vehicle technologies, strong enforcement, and continuous education.
In support of this, a new Road Safety Investigation Branch will be established to analyze collision data and inform more effective prevention measures. Vehicle safety will also be enhanced by mandating 18 new technologies such as autonomous emergency braking and lane-keeping assistance, aligning UK vehicle regulations with Europe.
Road safety campaigners have welcomed the strategy. Independent campaigner Meera Naran MBE, who tragically lost her son in a road accident, praised the Government’s commitment to adopting “Dev’s Law” to improve vehicle safety standards.
The AA Charitable Trust and IAM RoadSmart both expressed strong support for the ambitious targets and the focus on driver behavior, technology, and enforcement, highlighting the importance of lifelong education in road safety.
To ensure accountability and progress, a new Road Safety Board chaired by the Local Transport Minister will oversee strategy delivery, supported by an Expert Advisory Panel including representatives from local authorities, emergency services, and road safety groups.
Particular attention will be given to vulnerable road users such as motorcyclists—who constitute just 1% of traffic but account for 21% of road deaths—and children from deprived areas who face disproportionately high pedestrian casualty rates. Proposed reforms include enhanced training, licensing, and safety trials for motorcyclists.
Additionally, recognizing that one in three road fatalities involve work-related driving or riding, the Government will pilot a National Work-Related Road Safety Charter to set standards for employers in both public and private sectors, promoting safer work travel practices.
This far-reaching strategy relies on strong partnerships across government, local authorities, businesses, and communities to make every journey on Britain’s roads as safe as possible.