The government’s Road Safety Strategy is to be introduced for several reasons, not least due to traffic accident figures, which have remained relatively static since 2010. In 2024, for example, 1,602 people were estimated killed in these incidents, a decline of just 1% from the previous year, while around 28,000 ended up with serious injuries. 

The need to draw up new national road safety commitments came after the 4th Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety in Marrakesh earlier in 2025. At this point, it was decided action should be taken in the UK alongside many other countries. 

Despite no formal announcements, late November 2025 saw the matter raised in parliament, when the UK government reiterated that it is committed to reducing road casualties. However, no timeline was given for the launch of the strategy, which would be the first of its kind in over a decade. In those November briefings, Lord Lennie, who lost his brother in a motorcycle collision, highlighted the urgency of action. 

Meanwhile, the Rail Minister, Lord Hendy outlined that measures under consideration include stronger enforcement, better use of vehicle data and modern technology, and targeted support for vulnerable road users. Other proposals include automatic e-call systems, appropriate speed-limit reductions, and the possible introduction of alcolocks (breathalyser device linked to a vehicle’s ignition system).

Groundbreaking drug driving campaign

In relation to this last topic, THINK!, the government-backed safety information initiative, launched the first drug driving campaign in over a decade at the end of November. The campaign is specifically targeting young men, because DfT statistics show that 90% of drivers impaired by drugs in collisions are male, while four in every 10 are aged between 17 and 30.

Teaming up with police enforcement operations, new adverts running online will target drug driving ‘hotspots’ across England and Wales using police data. The scale of the problem is also highlighted by the fact that between 2014 and 2023 there was a 70% increase in driver fatalities where drugs were present.

Meanwhile, there has also been suggestions that the drink-driving limit could be reduced, from the current limit of 35 micrograms of alcohol per 100ml of breath to 22 micrograms per 100ml of breath, which has been the limit in Scotland since 2014.

While not committing to this policy shift being decided, the Local Transport Minister, Lilian Greenwood, didn’t rule it out: “We are considering a range of policies under the new Road Safety Strategy, the first for ten years. This includes the case for changing the motoring offences, such as drink driving.”

Another measure on the table as part of the Road Safety Strategy is compulsory eye tests for over-70s. These tests would be carried out every three years when drivers aged 70 or above renew their license.

Any driver who fails the eyesight test would face a driving ban. This news comes as research from law firm Slater and Gordon revealed that 63% of people believe more restrictions should be placed on ‘older drivers’ in an attempt to increase road safety levels. The survey, which quizzed more than 2,000 people, also revealed that most classed an older driver as someone over 65.