MPs to examine Government Road Safety Strategy

The Transport Committee has launched an inquiry that will examine the ambitions and potential effectiveness of the Government’s new Road Safety Strategy.

Published in January, the new strategy is the first road safety strategy in over a decade Its stated aims are to reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured on Britain’s roads.

It also sets out the Government’s intended approach across four different themes: supporting road users, using technology, data and innovation, safer infrastructure and robust enforcement.

The Committee will now examine the Government’s proposals and the series of consultations that have been launched under the strategy.

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The MPs will consider whether the targets set by the Government reflect the right level of ambition, and whether arrangements across Government departments are strong enough to achieve these targets.

Alongside this, the Committee will investigate what measures would be most effective in reducing deaths and serious injuries involving new and novice drivers, and what is the right approach to safe driving later in life.

MPs will also consider evidence on wider issues raised by the strategy, including speed limit management, road design, safety on rural roads, and lessons from international and UK practice.

Transport Committee Chair Ruth Cadbury said it would look at how evidence on the relationship between speed limits and safety influence new guidance, and what scope is there for road design and maintenance to further improve safety?

“The number of people dying on our roads recently has plateaued after some years of steady decline, with too many people killed and seriously injured in preventable incidents” said Cadbury .” After a long wait for action to address this, the Transport Committee is pleased to see the Government stepping up with a new strategy. Now we want to explore whether ministers are heading in the right direction to really make a difference.”

“We will then make recommendations to the Government to best ensure that the Road Safety Strategy achieves its aims and works for all road users.”

The committee call for evidence requires submissions by Friday 13 March.

Inquiry: Road Safety Strategy

Terms of reference and call for evidence: 

https://committees.parliament.uk/call-for-evidence/3844/