New Road Safety Strategy sets direction for the next decade

 

A new Road Safety Strategy has been published by the Department for Transport, outlining how road safety policy will be shaped across Britain over the next decade

The strategy includes a commitment to reduce deaths and serious injuries on Britain’s roads by 65% by 2035, with a higher target of 70% for children under 16. To support this commitment, the Government has set out a series of interventions focused on improving safety outcomes across the road network.

The approach is built around four core areas: supporting road users; making better use of technology, data and innovation to improve vehicle safety and post-collision care; ensuring road infrastructure is safe; and applying robust enforcement to protect all road users. Overall, the focus is on preventing incidents, applying consistent standards and using data more effectively.

For commercial vehicle operators, the direction of travel is clear. The strategy signals continued focus on initiatives such as Earned Recognition, a review of penalties and sanctions for commercial vehicles, and further work around work-related road safety. These measures reinforce the importance of maintaining clear standards and accountability across fleet operations.

The strategy also outlines plans to establish a new, data-led Road Safety Investigation Branch for Great Britain. This is intended to strengthen learning following serious road traffic incidents and support a more coordinated approach to improving road safety.

The full Road Safety Strategy is available on GOV.UK:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/road-safety-strategy