Responsibility for road safety

In England and Wales, the bodies responsible for managing and maintaining public roads are called highway authorities, according to the Highways Act 1980. Apart from the Strategic Road Network in England (managed by National Highways) and trunk roads in Wales (managed by Welsh Ministers) highway authorities are local authorities. These are usually, but not always, country councils or unitary authorities.

Section 39 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 imposes a statutory duty on every highway authority in England, Wales and Scotland to promote and improve road safety. The Act states that each authority:

  • Must carry out studies into accidents arising out of the use of vehicles on roads, or parts of roads, within their area;
  • Must, in light of such studies, take measures as appear to be appropriate to prevent such accidents; and
  • In constructing new roads must take such measures as appear to be appropriate to reduce the possibilities of such accidents when the roads come into use.

Many highway authorities are part of Road Safety Partnerships which operate across the country based around police force areas; some are called Casualty Reduction Partnerships. Partnerships are made up of multiple agencies who coordinate the pooling of resources with the aim of reducing the number of road casualties.

In addition to highway authorities, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), police, fire brigade and employers (given that a high proportion of road journeys are work-related) also maintain partial responsibility for road safety.

For further information, in 2019 the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA)  produced a guide for Elected Councillors in England [PDF] on improving road safety.

Scotland

The Scottish Parliament has competence to legislate on road safety, though some related topics, such as driver and vehicle standards, are reserved where there is a need to ensure consistency of treatment and approach between Scotland and the rest of the UK. In February 2021, Transport Scotland published Scotland’s Road Safety Framework to 2030. This sets out a vision for Scotland to have the best road safety performance in the world. It also sets out targets to reduce the number of people killed and seriously injured by 50%, with 60% reductions in the number of children killed and seriously injured.

Northern Ireland

In Northern Ireland, the Department for Infrastructure is the sole roads authority. It is responsible for coordinating the implementation of the Road Safety Strategy for Northern Ireland to 2030 and the Road Safety Action Plan to 2027 [PDF].  Similar to Scotland, the Road Safety Strategy sets targets to reduce the number of people killed and seriously injured by at least 50%, with a 60% reduction in the number of children killed and seriously injured. It also sets a target to reduce the number of young people (aged 16-24) killed or seriously injured in road collisions by 60%.

On 27 January 2026, Northern Ireland Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins MLA announced plans to introduce Graduated Driver Licensing on 1 October 2026. This will include:

  • A mandatory minimum learning period of six months before a learner driver can undertake their practical driving test
  • An increase in the restriction period from the current 12 months to 24 months requiring new drivers to display a distinguishing mark (plate) on the vehicle for two years after receiving a full licence
  • A period of six months with nighttime driving restrictions for new drivers under 24
  • Age related nighttime passenger restrictions for newly qualified drivers, with exemption for immediate family members.

Road Safety Strategy

The Department for Transport’s (DfT) Road Safety Strategy was published in January 2026. The strategy aims to improve road safety in Great Britain.

The government’s overarching targets are a “65% reduction in the number of people killed or seriously injured on roads in Great Britain by 2035” and a “70% reduction in the number of children (under 16) killed or seriously injured on roads in Great Britain by 2035”. Both will use 2022-2024 data as a baseline to measure progress.

To support each overarching target, policy commitments have been grouped under four themes:

  • supporting road users
  • taking advantage of technology, data and innovation for safer vehicles and post collision care
  • ensuring infrastructure is safe
  • robust enforcement to protect all road users

Significant proposals included in the road safety strategy include:

  • consulting on introducing a three or six month minimum learning period for learner drivers
  • consulting on introducing mandatory eyesight testing for drivers over age 70 and develop options for cognitive testing for older drivers
  • undertaking further research on the vehicle design factors that may be responsible for increased headlamp glare
  • publishing a new edition of the Department for Transport best practice guidance ‘Setting Local Speed Limits’ and updating the separate guidance on the use of speed and red-light cameras
  • consulting on lowering the drink drive limit in England and Wales
  • reviewing the penalties and mandatory training for drink and drug driving offences, including consulting on the use of alcohol interlock devices
  • considering bringing in new powers to suspend the driving licence for people suspected of committing a drink and/or drug driving offence and those under investigation for the most serious motoring offences resulting in a fatality or serious injury
  • exploring alternative methods for collecting and processing evidence of drug driving

Alongside the new strategy, five road safety consultations on specific proposals included in the strategy were launched.

Reaction to the strategy

Many in the industry have welcomed the Road Safety Strategy, including the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents which noted that it was the first strategy for 10 years. The Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety welcomed the inclusion of clear targets, as well as the establishment of a Road Safety Investigation Branch, a review of the licensing regime for younger drivers and the proposed consultation on the 18 new safety technologies for vehicles.

The AA welcomed the introduction of targets for reducing road deaths, but criticised the government for not introducing restrictions on the age at which young drivers can carry passengers of a similar age. The RAC also welcomed the strategy, saying that it addressed a number of issues its members were concerned about, including drink and drug-driving, ‘ghost’ plates and dazzling headlights. It particularly welcomed the inclusion of a commitment to consult on the use of alcohol interlocks.

Organisations representing motorcyclists, including the British Motorcycle Federation and National Motorcyclists Council welcomed the consultation on improving moped and motorcycle training, testing and licensing.

Catherine Woodhead, Chief Executive of Living Streets, a charity that aims to achieve a better walking environment and inspire people to walk more, welcomed the strategy’s focus on vulnerable road users, including pedestrians, but said that the vision should be for zero fatalities rather than a 65% reduction.

Further information

The Library constituency data dashboard road traffic collisions and casualties shows the number of road traffic casualties by severity, vehicle type and age between 2018 and 2024. It can be used to view trends since 2000 at constituency level.

The Library Insight Driving licences for the over-70s (23 October 2025) provides an overview of the current rules on driving license renewal for people aged 70 and above.

Section 3 of the  Library briefing Road and Vehicle FAQs (2 August 2024) provides an overview of road safety-related topics, including smart motorways, speed limits, and the use of e-scooters and off-road bikes.

Related posts