RoSPA response to the Government’s Plan for Drivers

• Today the Government released details of its Plan for Drivers
• RoSPA – there is a dire need for the Government’s long-overdue UK Road Safety Strategy

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) urges the Government’s Plan for Drivers to show true commitment to road safety by issuing a long-awaited UK Road Safety Strategy, which elapsed in 2019.

The UK is now in a minority of G7/G20 countries without a published road safety strategy.

Statistics last week showed 2022 saw 29,742 people killed or seriously injured on our roads and road deaths rise 10 per cent to pre-covid levels. A fifth of those killed on Britain’s roads were not wearing seatbelts, and drugged driving related casualties topped 1,000 for the first time.

Speaking on the news, Steve Cole, RoSPA’s Executive Head of Policy, Campaigns, and Public Affairs, said:

“While we value the Government’s financial commitment to the road safety fund made in April this year, recent statistics show that there could not be a more urgent need for its long-overdue UK Road Safety Strategy, which elapsed in 2019.

“While the UK was once a beacon for road safety, progress has now come to a grinding halt, with fatalities and injuries plateauing, and an average of 81 people killed on our roads, every day of the year – an unacceptable and shocking toll.

“We must not forget, our pledge for safer roads is not a ‘war on motorists’, this is about using evidence-based approaches to keep people safe, and we implore the Government to release a new UK Road Safety Strategy which is vital to everyone’s wellbeing – motorists included.”

Twenty mile per hour zones have been under fierce debate in recent weeks, with Wales introducing its 20 mile per hour speed limit and rumours of the Government putting the brakes on local council 20 mile per hour zone decision-making.

Cole continued:

“We are pleased to see the Government move from a legislative position on 20 mile per hour zones and low traffic neighbourhoods to a guidance position. We know that 20 mile per hour speed limits can result in 40 per cent fewer collisions and a seven-fold reduction in deaths^[1].

“We firmly believe that local Government, practitioners, drivers and communities know their roads far better than Westminster and should therefore not be subject to blanket decision-making from Westminster, so welcome the Government’s recognition of this.”