Strategic plan to improve road safety on UK roads

The Government has launched a new Road Safety Strategy that aims to reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured (KSI) on UK roads. With an average of four lives lost daily in 2024, the strategy sets country-wide targets to cut KSIs by 2035.

From ADAS and vehicle data access, to Earned Recognition and road safety investigations, the BVRLA is already working with policymakers across multiple workstreams to ensure that the sector's views and potential contributions are understood. The association welcomes the added momentum and focus that this strategy will bring.

The Strategy has four key themes:

1. Supporting Road Users
2. Taking advantage of technology, data and innovation for safer vehicles and post collision care – improvements to ADAS, crash testing, headlamp glare, vehicle size.
3. Ensuring infrastructure is safe 
4. Robust enforcement to protect all road users.

As part of the Road Safety Strategy, the Government is consulting on mandating the fitting of 18 safety technologies for specific vehicle categories - approved to the unlimited series under the GB type approval scheme.

The consultation falls under the second theme of the strategy. This also includes improvements to ADAS. The BVRLA is one of the organisations listed as a key stakeholder the Government wants to engage with and the association is looking to work with members to formulate a response.

The Government is proposing to mandate 18 of the 19 GSR2 safety technologies for manufacturers seeking GB type approval for mass-produced vehicles. There is one additional technology, alcohol interlock installation facilitation (AIIF), where further work is needed before a decision is made about whether to progress it.

The consultation is open until 31 March and the BVRLA will gather views on requirements that may be necessary to ensure the safety technologies are retained and maintained following type approval and registration.

Members are asked to contact [email protected] for further information and to help shape the BVRLA’s response.

More information: Road safety strategy - GOV.UK