Call for next Government to cut road deaths with four priorities

A road safety coalition is calling for the next Government to prioritise four strategic priorities, including the introduction of graduated driver licensing, to reduce fatalities on UK roads.

Led by the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety (PACTS), the 33-strong group has produced a manifesto calling for immediate and strategic action to address the persistent issue of road fatalities and serious injuries in the UK.

The four priorities outlined in the manifesto, include developing a national road safety strategy; establishing a road safety investigation branch; introducing graduated driver licensing; and adopting advanced vehicle safety regulations.

Every day, five people die on UK roads, with more than 30,000 individuals killed or seriously injured annually, amounting to a staggering societal and economic cost of approximately £43.5 billion each year.

Jamie Hassall, executive director of PACTS, said: “These four simple measures will be the building blocks to enable the UK to reduce the number of people that are killed and seriously injured on our roads. 

“When we have strong leadership and a strategic approach the UK has managed to half the numbers of road deaths in a decade but since 2010 the fucus was lost and daily road deaths have remained at five a day. 

“Investing in road safety is not just a moral duty but it’s good for peoples’ health and wellbeing, the environment, business, and the country.”

PACTS is urging the incoming government to prioritise these strategies within the first 100 days of office to ensure the UK meets international road safety targets and sets a global standard in protecting its citizens.