Government releases new road safety strategy

Last week the government released their long awaited strategy to improve road safety by implementing new rules and plans to help reduce deaths and injuries on UK roads.Their goal is is to have a 65% reduction in the number of adults and 70% reduction in the number of children (under 16) killed or seriously injured in road accidents by 2035.

The strategy details a range of polices, mainly focusing on 4 themes:

• Supporting road users - policies such as introducing 3 or 6 month learning periods for learner drivers, lowering the blood alcohol limit for new drivers etc.

  
  

• Using technology and data to improve vehicle safety and post-collision outcomes - policies such as working together with stakeholders and manufacturers to better understand safety concerns for larger vehicles, advise on mandating 18 new safety technologies into specific vehicles under the Great Britain approval scheme etc.

  
  

• Maintaining safe infrastructure - Publishing an updated version of the best practice guide "Setting Local Speed Limits" and revising the guidance on the use of speed and red-light cameras, Publishing an updated version of "Manual for Streets" and using it withing the planning policy and guidance framework etc.

  
  

• Enforcing rules to protect everyone on the road - revising the penalties and training for drinking and drug driving offences, discussing the rise in illegal number plates etc

Changes to stragety came into discussion after the UK fell to 4th place in Europes road saftey rankings, highlighting how the current stragety was no longer affective with the evolution of vehicle technology and higher risk roads.

By taking these steps and enforcing national targets the government hopes to improve overall road safety for road users and pedestarians by 50% by 2030.

Read the full government road safety strategy here - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/road-safety-strategy