Wedoany.com Report on Jan 31st, The UK Transport Committee has recently launched an inquiry to review the government's newly published road safety strategy, assessing its objectives and implementation potential. The strategy, unveiled earlier this month, aims to reduce the number of deaths and serious injuries on UK roads.
This is the first road safety strategy launched in the UK in over a decade, centered around four core themes: supporting road users, leveraging technology, data and innovation, building safer infrastructure, and strengthening enforcement.
The Committee will examine the government's proposals and the related consultation process. MPs will assess whether the targets set by the government are reasonable and whether the cross-departmental collaboration mechanisms are sufficient to support their achievement. The inquiry will also focus on how to effectively reduce casualties involving new and elderly drivers, and explore long-term strategies for safe driving.
Transport Committee Chair Ruth Cadbury stated: "Road deaths have plateaued in recent years after a period of decline, and many preventable accidents continue to occur. After a long wait for action, the Committee welcomes the launch of the new strategy, and now needs to examine whether ministers have taken the right direction to make a real impact."
She further noted: "We need to confirm whether the targets are reasonable, the arrangements are effective, whether learner driver training should be strengthened, and how to protect the safety of older drivers while maintaining their independence. How does the evidence on speed limits and safety influence the new guidelines? What improvements can be made in road design? What lessons can be learned from other countries?"
The Committee will gather a wide range of views and make recommendations to the government to ensure the road safety strategy effectively serves all road users. The deadline for written evidence submissions is March 13, focusing on topics such as strategic objectives, implementation measures, and international experiences.
The specific scope of the review includes: whether the strategy's targets of a 65% reduction in deaths and serious injuries and a 70% reduction in child casualties by 2035 are reasonable; whether cross-departmental governance and resource allocation are adequate; whether the measures are based on reliable evidence; and what international experiences beyond Sweden's Vision Zero approach can be learned from.
The thematic review covers four key areas: In supporting road users, focusing on safety measures for new and elderly drivers; in technology application, evaluating driver assistance systems and vehicle safety standards; in infrastructure, discussing speed limit policies and rural road safety; and in enforcement, analyzing deterrents for traffic violations and the effectiveness of behavior change measures.
