National road safety strategy ‘needed’ as annual road deaths stagnate

Brake chief executive Ross Morlock has called on the new Government to implement a road safety strategy in a speech at the road safety charity’s annual reception.

Announcing Brake’s new three-year strategy at the House of Commons event, Morlock (pictured) said: “We have a new Government, and we must make sure those in power see the enormity of the challenges. Those with the authority to enact change must do so.”

He identified three pillars – campaigning, education and road victim support – in Brake’s new strategy.

Brake says it will campaign to change legislation, including default 20mph speed limits in all built-up areas; graduated driving licences; and zero tolerance for drink/drug drivers.

It also wants all organisations to monitor and report on driver incidents and for the Government to adopt the EU’s new vehicle safety regulations,  which require mandatory safety features for new cars, vans and trucks

Last year, there were almost 1,700 deaths on the road, equivalent to almost five per day, with another 28,000 people suffering life changing injuries. Those figures have remained largely unchanged for the past decade.

For its part, Brake supported 2,000 families affected by death or serious injury on the road. It is supporting 600 families right now.

Yet, Morlock said: “There is no national funding in place for road victim support – that is unacceptable. We need parity with other victim groups.”

Among his measures of success in three years’ time are: the UK Government putting safety at the centre of its decisions on transport; a significant and sustainable reduction in road deaths and serious injury; and that everyone has access to effective trauma support.

Brake will put the focus on road victims as the theme of this year’s Road Safety Week, which will run from November 18-24.

“We will count the real cost of crashes and share the stories. Please help us to convince those in power that every injury and death on the road is unacceptable,” added Morlock.

While the first King’s speech under the new Labour Government did not mention road safety, Kim Leadbeater, MP for Spen Valley and sponsor of this year’s Brake annual reception, pledged to do “whatever I can” to make sure road safety is high on the agenda.

“We have a new Government and I think now is the time to make these asks,” she said.

Referring to new secretary of state Louise Haigh and transport minister Lilian Greenwood, Leadbeater added: “Their doors are open.”

Leadbeater has previously campaigned on road safety and in May this year tabled a 10-minute rule bill before Parliament for the introduction of graduated driving licences for newly qualified drivers.