Road safety

The Department for Transport (DfT) sets policies on driving and vehicles in the UK. The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), and the Vehicle Certification Agency (VCA) deliver the policies.

Many domestic licensing and vehicle standards derive from international rules set by either the European Union or the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE).

Policy on traffic offences and their enforcement is shared between the DfT, the Home Office and the Ministry of Justice.

The responsibility for managing and maintaining a public road depends on its location, and whether it is a motorway or strategic ‘trunk’ road, or a local road.

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. Historically the UK has been a world leader in road safety. However, since 2010 the number of people killed or seriously injured on the roads has plateaued.

2026 Road Safety Strategy

The Road Safety Strategy, published in January 2026, establishes a new policy direction for the UK. It sets targets to reduce deaths and serious injuries by 65% by 2035, using 2022 to 2024 data as the baseline. Policy is structured around four themes:

• supporting road users
• technology and data
• infrastructure
• enforcement

It includes proposals for a minimum learning period for new drivers, mandatory eyesight testing for drivers aged 70 and over, and further regulation of vehicle design. Five consultations on these measures closed on 11 May 2026.

Driving Offences

Driving offences in the UK range from administrative breaches, such as failing to produce documents, to serious offences involving injury or death. Under section 2 of the Road Traffic Act 1988, dangerous driving offences include speeding, drink or drug driving, or driving while distracted (such as using a phone). The Road Traffic Act 1988 section 3 provides for careless driving offences include tailgating, undertaking, or running a red light.

Speed limits are a road safety measure enforced by the police and speed cameras. The Government’s 2026 Road Safety Strategy commits to updating guidance on local speed limits. There has been growing use of 20 mph schemes, particularly in urban areas and near schools, with evidence suggesting they reduce collisions and fatalities.

Drink and drug driving offences are governed by the Road Traffic Act 1988 and carry penalties including fines, imprisonment and disqualification. Current policy discussions include lowering drink-drive limits for some drivers and the possible reintroduction of alcohol ignition locks for offenders. Scotland already operates lower drink-drive limits than England and Wales, while Northern Ireland plans similar reforms.

Licensing and tests

The UK’s driver licensing is overseen by the DVLA, and the DVSA, which administers driving tests. As part of its 2026 road safety strategy, the Government is consulting on reforms, including mandatory eyesight testing for drivers aged over 70, a minimum learning period for learner drivers, and changes to moped and motorcycle licensing. In Northern Ireland, where driving tests are devolved, a new Graduated Driver Licensing scheme is due to begin in October 2026.

Vehicle design

Changes in vehicle design—particularly brighter headlights and larger vehicle sizes—have raised concerns around road safety in the UK. The 2026 Road Safety Strategy section on ‘Tackling glare’ commits to further research on glare across different vehicle types and models. Existing regulations already prohibit vehicle lighting that causes undue dazzle, with standards shaped by both the Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989 and international UNECE rules.

Growing vehicle size has prompted concerns about the safety of pedestrians, cyclists and occupants of smaller vehicles. Research indicates that rising bonnet heights are associated with higher fatality risks for vulnerable road users, particularly children. The government has committed to further work with manufacturers and stakeholders to better understand the safety implications of larger vehicles (PQ 109191, 28 January 2026).

Infrastructure

Highway authorities have a statutory duty to promote road safety and receive maintenance funding through the highway maintenance block grant, which was increased to £1.6 billion in 2025/26 and expanded through a £7.3 billion allocation to 2029/30. Poor road conditions remain a concern with defects such as potholes contributing to injuries, vehicle damage and loss of control.

Although government reviews have concluded that smart motorways are broadly safe, public confidence has remained low, leading the government to halt plans for new smart motorways in 2023.

Road lighting is recognised as an important contributor to safety, particularly at night when fatal and serious injuries are proportionately higher. Improved lighting is increasingly linked to wider safety goals, including safer streets for women and girls and better active travel infrastructure.

Road safety around schools remains a priority due to heightened risks during drop-off and pick-up periods. In response, many local authorities have adopted School Streets schemes, which restrict vehicle access outside schools to improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists. Do not type over or delete this non-printing text

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.

Section 3 of the Library briefing Road and Vehicle FAQs (2 August 2024) provides an overview of road safety-related topics.