'Thousands of lives to be saved' under government's new Road Safety Strategy
The plan should reduce deaths and serious injuries by 65% in a decade
Last updated 7th Jan 2026
The government has announced it's first Road Safety Strategy in more than a decade, which promises to save thousands of lives.
The plan hopes to reduce deaths and serious injuries on Britain's roads by 65% by 2035.
What has been announced?
Consultations have been opened on eye tests for those over 70, as the number of older drivers continue to rise as the British population ages.
The Government is also consulting on lowering the drink-driving limit, which is currently the highest in Europe.
New measures will also target illegal number plates and cracking down on uninsured drIvers and vehicles without a valid MOT.
Finally, the Government will consult on introducing a 3 or 6 month minimum learning period. This will give drivers more time to develop their skills in varied conditions.
It is one part of a Graduated Driving Licence that campaigners like Crystal Owen, from Shropshire, have been calling for.
Crystal lost her son Harvey after he was involved in a car crash when the car overturned in a flooded ditch and he drowned, alongside three of his friends.
She welcomes today's news, but says it does not go far enough: "It is positive that we actually have a road safety strategy in place after the last ten years of not having one.
'Blood on their hands'
"However, I think it fails young people massively because it is leaving out the most effective solution. We need to put limits on the number of peer-age passengers new drivers can carry.
"Young people are more likely to kill a car full of their friends as opposed to driving into a lamppost and killing themselves, that is the reality.
"The Government will be responsible for more deaths if they do not do what is needed. They will have blood on their hands," she said.
Secretary of State for Transport, Heidi Alexander, said:
“Every life lost on our roads is a tragedy that devastates families and communities. For too long, progress on road safety has stalled. This strategy marks a turning point.
“We are taking decisive action to make our roads safer for everyone, from new drivers taking their first lessons to older motorists wanting to maintain their independence.
"The measures we are announcing today will save thousands of lives over the coming decade."
Local Transport Minister, Lilian Greenwood, said: "Our vision with this ambitious Road Safety Strategy is clear: to ensure that people can travel safely on our roads however they choose.
"One of the hardest parts of my job is speaking to families who have lost loved ones on our roads and this is something we as a Government are taking action to prevent.
"No family should have to endure that loss, and this strategy sets out how we will work to ensure fewer do.
'A safer future'
"Experts and campaigners have long called for a comprehensive strategy that treats road safety as a shared responsibility – from car manufacturers and town planners to drivers and legislators.
"This strategy, the first in over a decade, shows a Government that is not just listening, but leading, and together, we can build a safer future for all road users."
A new Road Safety Board chaired by the Minister for Local Transport will oversee delivery of the strategy which the Government says will help ensure each journey starts and ends safely.