The Labour government is set to unveil a comprehensive new Road Safety Strategy on Wednesday, introducing eight significant legal changes aimed at drastically cutting casualties on British roads. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander will present the plan, which marks a decisive shift after what campaigners call a "lost decade" in road safety progress.
Core Measures of the New Strategy
At the heart of the strategy are several key legislative proposals. The government will consult on lowering the drink-drive limit in England and Wales from 35 micrograms of alcohol per 100ml of breath to 22 micrograms, bringing it in line with Scotland. This is the first potential change to the limit since 1967.
Furthermore, all new cars will be required to have Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) systems fitted as standard. This technology, already mandatory in Europe, uses sensors to automatically slow a vehicle if a collision is imminent.
For older motorists, the government will propose mandatory eyesight exams every three years for drivers over 70 and is also exploring options for cognitive testing. Young drivers face changes too, with plans for a mandatory three-to-six-month minimum learning period to ensure experience in varied conditions.
Strengthened Enforcement and Penalties
The strategy also focuses on tougher enforcement for existing offences. Fines for uninsured drivers will be doubled, and failing to wear a seatbelt will attract penalty points in addition to the current financial penalty.
For drink-drive offenders, the plan includes the potential use of "alcolocks" – devices that prevent a vehicle from starting unless the driver passes a breath test. Police will also gain powers to immediately suspend the licenses of suspected drink- or drug-drivers pending confirmation of roadside tests.
Reaction from Campaigners and Groups
Road safety charities and motoring organisations have largely welcomed the proposals. Nicholas Lyes of IAM RoadSmart said the strategy comes after "a lost decade" in reducing deaths and serious injuries.
RAC road safety spokesperson Rod Dennis stated: "We warmly welcome this strategy – and especially the reintroduction of casualty reduction targets, that were scrapped 16 years ago." He emphasised the urgent need for action, noting that on average, four people are killed and 76 seriously injured on UK roads every day.
AA President Edmund King called it "a positively radical reframing of road safety which is long overdue." The strategy has also received support from independent campaigners like Meera Naran MBE, who lost her eight-year-old son Dev in a collision and has campaigned for the so-called "Dev's Law" on vehicle safety regulations.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander framed the strategy as a moral imperative: "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." The government believes these measures will save thousands of lives over the next ten years.
