New Road Safety Strategy Introduced

Shockingly, four people die on our roads every single day. That is completely unacceptable.

That’s why I welcome Labour’s new Road Safety Strategy, introduced today by Lilian Greenwood MP - the first in over a decade, setting out bold action to save lives and make our roads safer for everyone.

Just before Christmas, I spent the day with officers from Lancashire Police and heard some truly harrowing stories about serious accidents on our roads — many of which could have been easily prevented.

I’ve also heard directly from you: Parents worry about children walking to school. Cyclists want safer routes. Motorists want better, safer roads. I could go on.

That’s why I’m delighted that this Government has set an ambitious target to cut deaths and serious injuries by 65% by 2035 (and by 70% for children) and is taking real action by putting people and communities first.

The strategy includes:

Supporting road users

• Consulting on a minimum learning period for learner drivers and a higher theory test pass mark

• Introducing mandatory eyesight testing for drivers over 70, with options for cognitive testing

• Considering a lower drink-drive limit

• Publishing national guidance on lifelong road safety education and refreshing knowledge at licence renewal

  
  

Harnessing technology and innovation

• Mandating 18 advanced safety technologies in new vehicles, including intelligent speed assistance and emergency braking

• Updating the MOT system to reflect new technologies and electric vehicles

• Establishing a Road Safety Investigation Branch to learn from collisions and prevent future tragedies

Safer infrastructure

• Updating guidance on local speed limits and embedding the new Manual for Streets to design safer, people-focused roads

• Supporting targeted initiatives to improve rural road safety, including for motorcyclists

• Robust enforcement

• Consulting on lower drink-drive limits and tougher penalties for seatbelt offences

• Introducing new powers to suspend licences for serious motoring offences

• Tackling uninsured driving, illegal number plates, and launching a Roads Policing Innovation Programme

South Ribble residents, and the millions of people who use our roads every day, deserve to be safe in the knowledge that we are doing everything possible to protect them.

Read more about the strategy here: https://www.gov.uk/gove.../publications/road-safety-strategy