The long-anticipated Road Safety Strategy document has been released by the government this morning – the first in over a decade.
By 2035, it aims to reduce deaths and serious injuries on our roads by 65%. Some of the proposed changes will have a big impact on us once they become law.
Highest in Europe
- The drink drive limit in England and Wales has remained unchanged since 1967 and is currently the highest in Europe.
- 1 in 6 road fatalities involves drink driving
- Not all fatalities are tested for toxicology so the ‘real’ figure may be higher
- A consultation will explore preventative technology requiring drink drivers to have a vehicle interlock device fitted before regaining a licence
Drink and drug driving
Probably the scariest change for most rally-going scooterists is the lower drink-driving limit. It looks highly likely that we’ll be dropping the limit down from 35mcg to 22mcg to bring us in line with Scotland. Just one drink could put you over the lower limit. Drug driving will also be tackled.
The morning after
I’m sure there aren’t many of us who deliberately ride our scooters after a skinful, but the morning after is a potentially scary prospect. The use of home breathalysers may well be a smart move to be on the safe side after a night out or weekend away.
The police roadblock in the photo above was set up in Llandudno last October. Motorists were being pulled over at random, and the scooterist rumour mill quickly spread around town that it was a drink-and-drug test. In fact, it was there for eyesight checks, which brings us neatly on to the next point of this Road Safety Strategy.
Compulsary eyesight checks
With the number of older drivers and riders continuing to rise, a consultation for mandatory eyesight checks for the over-70s will be launched, and options for cognitive testing will also be developed. I’m sure all of us know older drivers/riders who aren’t quite what they used to be, so this change will certainly improve road safety. However, the possible loss of independence in our later years will be a significant sacrifice.
Illegal number plates
The growing problem of ‘ghost’ plates designed to fool camera systems and illegal number plates will be tackled using new measures. Whilst also cracking down on uninsured drivers and vehicles without a current MOT.
Motorcycle training
Although motorcyclists account for just 1% of motor vehicle traffic, we make up 21% of road deaths. The Road Safety Strategy will be consulting on reforms to motorcycle training, testing and licensing. They’ll also be supporting trials to improve motorcycle safety on rural roads.
Young drivers?
Despite accounting for a disproportionate amount of fatalities and serious injuries, the reforms haven’t taken the opportunity to limit young car drivers to a graduated licence (like motorcyclists already have). Nor have they tried to limit the number or ages of their passengers (which significantly increases risk levels).
Minimum tuition – maximum wait times
What they have set out to do is give learner drivers at least 6 months of tuition before they can take a driving test. That sounds good on paper, in reality, it’s nigh on impossible for learners to take lessons to a suitable standard, pass the theory test and get an actual practical test in less than six months as it stands. Waiting lists are at crisis point, and anybody failing a test is likely to wait a further six months before they can get another test date.
Motorcycle Industry Association (MCIA)
The MCIA have been working with ministers and officials to reform motorcycle training, making it cheaper and easier to access. They aim to do the following…
- Improve rider safety through better-designed training and progression
- Make licensing less complex and more affordable, not harder
- Support uptake of low and zero-emission mopeds, motorcycles and other L-Category vehicles
- Strengthen the role of motorcycles, mopeds and other vehicle types in our sector within the UK’s wider transport and growth ambitions
Commenting, MCIA CEO, Tony Campbell, said:
“This is a hugely significant moment for the motorcycle sector and a massive campaign win for MCIA. For several years, through our A Licence to Net Zero campaign, we have been calling for a full review of motorcycle licensing, training and testing – and today the Government has formally committed to doing exactly that.
The Minister’s announcement at our Annual Conference last year was a critical turning point, and since then we have worked relentlessly to ensure this issue stayed firmly on the agenda. This review would not be happening without that sustained engagement.
There is still a lot of work to do, and the detail will matter enormously. We will work constructively alongside government to ensure any reforms make licensing less complex, more affordable and, above all, safer – not more restrictive.
This is a monumental opportunity to support motorcycling as a safe, sustainable and practical transport mode that can help deliver the Government’s ambitions on road safety, net zero and growth. We must not waste it.”
MCIA will now engage with members, training providers, safety and rider organisations and Government to shape the forthcoming consultation and ensure the sector speaks with a strong, unified voice.
Rebecca Guy, Senior Policy Manager, Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), said:
“RoSPA welcomes the publication of the government’s Road Safety Strategy, which we have long called for as an essential tool for preventing road traffic collisions and saving lives on the nation’s roads. This represents an important step by the Government at a time when reducing road traffic casualties remains an urgent priority.
In the last decade, the UK has lost its position as a global leader on road safety, with road deaths decreasing by just 10 per cent between 2014 and 2024. The European Transport Safety Council ranked the UK as 9th worst out of 32 countries in Europe for reducing road deaths between 2023 and 2024, below countries such as Italy and Portugal. This strategy will be essential to reversing that stalled progress and ensuring we do not fall further behind other comparable countries.
We are pleased to see the introduction of ambitious and clear road safety targets. If backed by robust data, regular reporting and meaningful enforcement, these provide a vital framework for accountability and focus. This ensures that progress can be properly measured and policies adjusted where they are not delivering results.
A commitment to consult on mandating the fitting of 18 new safety technologies is an overdue step to protect pedestrians and all road users. These will ensure that new vehicles meet the highest modern safety requirements, delivering life-saving benefits. This change is estimated to prevent more than 14,000 people being killed or seriously injured on Great Britain’s roads over 15 years.
RoSPA strongly supports the decision to consult on reducing the legal drink-driving limit. This reflects the clear scientific consensus that even low levels of alcohol significantly impair driving ability, sending a strong message about the dangers of drink-driving.
RoSPA also welcomes proposals to consult on mandatory eyesight tests for drivers when they reach 70. Drivers must be able to see clearly and respond safely on the road, and regular vision checks are a sensible way to reduce risk as we age. Any system should support people to drive safely for as long as possible, while taking timely action when health or eyesight could put them or others in danger. But it is equally important to strengthen protections for young and newly qualified drivers, who are significantly more likely to be killed or seriously injured. We welcome the Government’s commitment to consult on a minimum learning period for learner drivers, but would like to see post-test measures introduced to protect young drivers.
We are also pleased to see the Government’s commitment to establish a dedicated Road Safety Investigation Branch. Unlike aviation and rail, previously, road deaths have occurred without a consistent national system for learning lessons and making formal safety recommendations. With a dedicated investigative branch, opportunities to prevent future tragedies could be realised.
This strategy signals a renewed determination to tackle preventable road harm, and must now be delivered effectively, with sufficient investment and support, so its measures have real impact on our roads. The strategy demonstrates the value of a clear, evidence‑based approach to preventing injuries. RoSPA’s National Accident Prevention Strategy shows how these same principles can be applied to guide coordinated, strategic action to reduce accidents across all areas of society. We look forward to working with Government to turn these shared goals into practical action that saves lives on our roads.”
IAM RoadSmart Director of Policy and Standards, Nicholas Lyes, said:
“After what can be described as a lost decade in terms of reducing the number of killed and seriously injured on the roads, we welcome the government’s commitment to ambitious targets and robust policies to make our roads safer.”
“The strategy focuses on all key aspects, including behaviours, training, vehicle technology and enforcement – all of which play a crucial role in keeping us safe on the road. An emphasis on younger drivers and motorcycle safety is particularly positive, considering these are some of our most vulnerable road users.”
“We’re also pleased to see action being taken on drug driving, which is a growing menace and by giving police additional powers to take action against those caught at the roadside, it will serve notice that such dangerous behaviours will not be tolerated.”
Our thoughts
Although we welcome improvements to road safety and better driver and rider training, we can’t help but wonder who will police some of these changes. The scourge of illegal bike riders blights every town and city in the country. Balaclava-clad youths on often-stolen or unlicensed and uninsured bikes and scooters affect public perception of genuine motorcyclists and scooter riders. Their accident statistics also skew the figures for our casualty rates.
Illegal e-scooters
Added to this is the current disregard for the use of illegal e-scooters; they’re used on roads and pavements everywhere, and the death and injury rates are growing. Ok, in theory, the police can (and quite often do) confiscate and crush them, but for every one crushed there are another thousand on the roads. This, in turn, is having a massive effect on the motorcycle industry. Why buy a moped or 125 when you can commute on an e-scooter without taking a CBT or test, without the need for tax, MOT or insurance? The government should have at least licensed their use, with mandatory helmets being one of the main criteria, along with third-party insurance. Authorised hire fleets are allowed in some cities, which further muddies the waters, but helmets aren’t even required for their use. Why not?
Iggy
Yet another opportunity missed by the government of the day. Still, why do they care? They use taxis on expenses & don’t usually live on crime ridden council estates…
Definitely going to be a potential issue for Rally goers. My 18 year old step son left a weekend music festival a few years back, and the police were breathalysing all car drivers. He was just over the limit and lost his licence, which cost him dearly. I felt sorry for him, but on reflection he could have killed a scooterist on his way home…Perhaps the Rally bars will just have to serve green tea and digestives biscuits from now on, and having a skin full will now involve drinking 10 double shot coffees.😁.
Just more flawed control freakery by increasingly authoritarian governments to restrict freedoms and control the tax paying “documented” populace.
Whilst the reduction in drink driving limit may make sense, the EUs dictat on new cars being compulsarily fitted with a breathalyser, with mission creep eventually requiring the driver to carry out a test before every drive is a step too far. How long before our glorious leaders insist all vehicle use is linked to your digital ID and breath tests recorded, with automatic electronic referral to the police, insurer and your health clinic for frequent borderline results. The chirpy AI voice singing “Sorry driver but this is the third time in two weeks you have been just under the limit. You may have problem drinking. For your wellbeing we have informed your family doctor and insurer. Have a nice day!”
Of course the technology will be abused by those in power. It always is. Yet they only seek to control the “documented populace” as every day I am passed on my scoot by dozens of erratically riding, black hoody clad, masked “delivery riders” of uncertain origin doing 50 mph on “bicycles” with no lights on at night, completely ignored by the police and the authorities. No faith in the hypocrisy of Big Brother!
As for government statistics, I don’t believe anyrhing that comes out of the Home Office as the data is skewed by inaccurate reporting/recording, as the article said, in part by illegals skewing the accident/fatality rate.