16 February 2026
Understanding the UK’s Road Safety Strategy
Understanding the UK’s Road Safety Strategy
The UK’s Road Safety Strategy sets out a long-term plan to reduce deaths and serious injuries on Britain’s roads by 65% by 2035, rising to 70% for children under 16. It represents the first road safety framework of its kind in over a decade and aims to modernise how road risk is managed across the UK.
Why the Road Safety Strategy has been introduced
The strategy responds to growing recognition that previous approaches were no longer delivering meaningful reductions in road casualties. Over the past decade, the UK has fallen behind several comparable European countries on road safety performance, highlighting the need for a more coordinated and data-led response.
Rather than focusing solely on individual behaviour, the strategy adopts a “Safe System” approach. This recognises that while human error is inevitable, serious injury and loss of life should not be, with responsibility shared across road design, vehicle standards, enforcement, education and driver support.
Improving driver standards across all ages
A core element of the strategy focuses on reducing risk among younger drivers, who are disproportionately involved in serious collisions, while ensuring older drivers remain fit to drive.
Proposals include longer learning periods for new drivers, greater exposure to varied driving conditions, and mandatory eyesight testing for drivers over 70, alongside consideration of cognitive testing.
Further measures include consultation on lowering the drink-drive limit, exploring preventative technologies such as alcohol interlocks (in-car breathalysers that prevent a vehicle from starting if the driver’s blood alcohol concentration exceeds a set limit), and strengthening enforcement against uninsured vehicles and those without a valid MOT.
What this means for fleets and driving for work
Work-related road risk is a clear focus within the Road Safety Strategy, reflecting the significant proportion of serious collisions involving people driving or riding for work. The introduction of a National Work-Related Road Safety Charter pilot signals rising expectations on employers to manage road risk in line with other workplace hazards.
The Charter will be developed with business and industry and informed by existing initiatives led by National Highways, Transport for London and the DVSA. It will promote good practice and organisational accountability, with early success measured through engagement, initial safety impacts and culture change. The two-year pilot will be monitored and evaluated, with regulatory measures considered if voluntary engagement does not sufficiently reduce work-related road risk.
For fleets, this reinforces the importance of clear driving-for-work policies, appropriate vehicle standards, ongoing driver support and effective use of data.
How Activa supports safer driving for work
As expectations around work-related road safety increase, Activa helps fleets move from policy to practice. Through driver risk assessments, licence checking, targeted training and personalised driver handbooks, Activa supports organisations in managing compliance, reducing risk and protecting drivers across both company and grey fleets. To find out more, get in touch with us today.
