The Department for Transport (DfT) has today (7 January 2026) published its first Road Safety Strategy (RSS) in more than a decade.

The Government will save thousands of lives on the nation’s roads by tackling drink driving, improving training for young drivers, and introducing mandatory eye tests for older motorists

The strategy sets out a comprehensive plan to reduce deaths and serious injuries on Britain’s roads by 65% by 2035, with an even more ambitious target of 70% for children under 16.

Interventions to improve road safety

The Government has framed this action on road safety under four overarching themes:

  • Supporting road users
  • Taking advantage of technology, data and innovation for safer vehicles and post collision care
  • Ensuring our infrastructure is safe
  • Robust enforcement to protect all road users

The new strategy includes a range of measures which are which are linked to our commercial vehicle services.

Earned Recognition

  • The government will explore opportunities to further our ‘Earned recognition’ scheme.

Penalties and Sanctions

  • The government will make sure penalties and sanctions which apply to commercial vehicles are kept under review, to ensure that they provide sufficient deterrent to offending, including non-UK operators using UK roads.

National Work-Related Road Safety Charter

  • The government will pilot a National Work-Related Road Safety Charter for businesses that require people to drive or ride for them. The Charter will be developed in collaboration with business and industry, and will be informed by existing schemes, including our ‘Earned Recognition’ Scheme

Road Safety Investigation Branch for Great Britain

  • The government will establish a data-led Road Safety Investigation Branch for Great Britain. DVSA Post Collision Examination for commercial vehicles could enhance the data available to the RSIB and inform the systemic approach.

Further Information

You can read the Road Safety Strategy in full on GOV.UK.

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