The UK government has unveiled its first road safety strategy in more than ten years, setting targets to sharply cut road deaths by 2035. While much of the public debate focuses on private motorists, the strategy also places work-related driving , including HGV operations, firmly within its scope.
According to the government, around four people die on Britain’s roads every day, with thousands more seriously injured each year. The strategy adopts the internationally recognised Safe System approach, which assumes that while human error is inevitable, fatalities and serious injuries are preventable through a combination of road design, vehicle technology, enforcement and education.
Work-related driving explicitly included
One of the most relevant points for the road transport sector appears later in the strategy: an estimated one in three road traffic fatalities involves someone driving or riding for work.
On this basis, the government announced the launch of a National Work-Related Road Safety Charter pilot, which will apply to employers whose staff drive or ride for work. The scope explicitly includes HGVs, vans, cars, motorcycles, e-cycles and cycles.
According to the Department for Transport, the charter is intended to establish a national standard for employers in both the public and private sectors. Its stated aim is to help businesses reduce work-related road risk by promoting good practice, accountability and compliance with existing legislation. No mandatory requirements or implementation dates have been announced.
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New Road Safety Investigation Branch
The strategy also confirms the creation of a Road Safety Investigation Branch, tasked with analysing collision patterns to support prevention measures.
The new body will draw on linked police and healthcare data to identify root causes of serious road incidents and inform future road safety interventions. The government has not yet published further details on how investigations will operate in practice or how findings may be used.
Vehicle technology requirements
The strategy mandates the introduction of 18 vehicle safety technologies, including systems such as autonomous emergency braking and lane-keeping assistance.
According to the government, this approach will ensure that drivers and road users in Great Britain benefit from the same safety standards as elsewhere in Europe, while also supporting manufacturers by requiring consistent technical requirements across European markets.
Enforcement measures highlighted
Several enforcement-related measures outlined in the strategy may have implications for commercial transport.
The government will consult on:
- lowering the drink-drive limit in England and Wales
- the use of alcohol interlock devices for certain offenders
- new powers to suspend driving licences in drink- or drug-driving cases
In addition, the strategy includes action against:
- illegal or ‘ghost’ number plates designed to evade camera enforcement
- uninsured vehicles
- vehicles operating without a valid MOT
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Focus on vulnerable road users
The strategy highlights that motorcyclists account for 21% of road deaths, despite representing around 1% of motor vehicle traffic. It announces consultations on reforms to motorcycle training, testing and licensing, as well as trials to improve motorcycle safety on rural roads.
It also points to inequalities in road safety outcomes, noting that children from the most deprived neighbourhoods face pedestrian casualty rates four times higher than those in the least deprived areas.
No immediate changes to HGV rules
At this stage, the strategy:
- does not introduce new HGV-specific operating rules
- does not amend driving-time or rest-time regulations
- does not impose new mandatory obligations on operators
Most of the measures affecting commercial transport, including the Work-Related Road Safety Charter, are framed as pilots or consultations, with further details expected at a later stage.
