The UK government is proposing a range of new driving rules as part of a road safety strategy. The road safety strategy, released this week, is the first of its kind in more than a decade and aims to reduce deaths and serious injuries on Britain’s roads by 65% by 2035 and by 70% for children under 16.
While the number of people killed on Britain’s roads has declined since 1979, progress has halted since 2010. In 2024, an estimated 1,602 people died on Great Britain’s roads, down just 1% from the year before.
A total of 22 other European countries have made “more progress than the UK” in reducing road crash deaths, the Department for Transport (DfT) said.
The government stated, “Approximately four people die on Britain’s roads every day, with thousands more seriously injured each year, but through targeted action on speeding, drink and drug driving, not wearing seat belts and mobile phone use, thousands of these tragedies can be prevented.”
The new reforms proposed as part of the road safety strategy include:
Changes to Drink Driving Laws
The government will consult on lowering the drink drive limit in England and Wales, which has remained unchanged since 1967 and is currently the highest in Europe. In addition, with 1 in 6 fatalities involving drink driving in 2023, they will look at preventative technologies such as alcohol interlock devices, which can prevent drivers from using a vehicle if alcohol is detected on their breath.
Introducing additional checks and tests for drivers over 70
Around 24% of all car drivers killed in 2024 were 70 or older. As Britain’s population ages, the number of older drivers continues to rise, and a consultation on mandatory eyesight testing for those over 70 will be launched. At the same time, options for cognitive testing will also be developed to protect all road users.
Read more: Over two-thirds back mandatory retesting of senior drivers
New Road Safety Organisations
A new Road Safety Investigation Branch will be set up to analyse collision patterns and inform future prevention strategies, drawing data to identify root causes of accidents and target improvements.
The strategy also mandates 18 new vehicle safety technologies, including autonomous emergency braking and lane-keeping assistance. This will ensure drivers and road users benefit from access to these cutting-edge technologies and support growth by requiring manufacturers to meet the same requirements across Europe.
A new Road Safety Board, chaired by the Minister for Local Transport, will oversee delivery of the strategy, supported by an expert advisory panel drawing membership from local authorities, emergency services, active travel groups and road safety organisations.
A crackdown on Illegal and uninsured driving
New measures will be considered to target illegal number plates, including ‘ghost’ plates designed to fool number plate recognition camera systems, while also cracking down on uninsured drivers and vehicles without a valid MOT.
In response to the release of the strategy, RAC road safety spokesperson, Rod Dennis, said: “The strategy addresses many areas we know drivers are concerned about, including drink and drug-driving, ‘ghost’ plates and dazzling headlights. The inclusion of a commitment to consult on the use of alcohol interlocks for convicted drink-drivers – which are internationally proven to save lives – is particularly encouraging, especially given the extent to which drivers are supportive of their use. It’s also positive to see proposals on the table for both improving young driver safety and tackling the scourge of uninsured drivers who push up motor insurance costs for everyone.”
What do you think of these proposed measures? Do you believe they will make Britain’s roads safer, or are there other approaches you would like to see considered? Share your thoughts and join the conversation on road safety.
“Approximately four people die on Britain’s roads every day, with thousands more seriously injured each year, but through targeted action on speeding, drink and drug driving, not wearing seat belts and mobile phone use, thousands of these tragedies can be prevented.”
Nothing new here.
Regulations aimed at preventing the behavior mentioned have been in place for very many years. They have obviously failed to prevent if the problem is having to be addressed again. Why should they work in the future?
Teaching them to drive properly in the first place would be a start. Some people just are not cut out for driving and should not be aloud to have a licence. People from different countries have different standards of driving, generally lower in some cases a lot lower. Yet they are carering around not , or poorly insured for this country with little knowledge of the rules of the road (like many cyclists) .
Given the reported experience in Scotland, the change in the drink driving laws has had little if any effect on the accident rate. Is this a case of wanting to be seen to doing something rather than basing it on the evidence?
What steps have other countries taken to lower the accident rate?
A rational justification for these measures would be welcome.
Why keep picking on the over 70’s? Compulsory eye testing should be mandatory for all drivers in the uk. How many drivers recognise their eyesight has gradually deteriorated over time or know they need an eyesight but are too vane to go and get tested in case they have to wear glasses.
The 24% statistic of accidents involving over 70’s could be misleading – how many over 70’s were actually at fault of causing the accident?
All drivers should have an eye test every two years, don’t victimise the over seventies
So the government thinks that it’s ok to work at 70 but not to drive. 70 is far too young these days to impose sanctions. Maybe target the young people that think they are invincible and have no respect for other road users
Have short information videos on TV e.g “Don’t linger along side lorrys”, ” Drive on the inside lane on Motorways & Dual carriageways”, ” Merge in turn”, “We all make mistakes, accept it and move on”.
Driving every day I see inexperienced young drivers making other road users life in danger , they jump into there 180 BHP vehicles they are now on there personal road
All changes should be safety driven not political or ageist. Licences are renewed ever 10 years just like my pilots licence you should need an eye test at every renewal regardless of age and the DVLA should access the likes of Specsavers computers direct not on a bit of forged paper. Lower the legal drink drive limit only if it can clearly be shown the deaths caused by people between the current limit and the proposed limit are causing enough deaths. People at 4 times the limit will ignore any limits set anyway and it does nothing for under the influence of drugs. Then retest people who make insurance claims it’s a big red flag their attitude is not good!
The road maintenance across Europe is far superior to the U.K
This also has a profound effect on the results of your survey. The government need to pull their fingers out and get all the roads around the entire U.K properly maintained by funding the councils with the funds they so desperately need.
Why just target the over 70s? While it will ensure that unhealthy aging drivers give up their licence, it isn’t always about age. When one of my boys took me for a drive just after he passed his test I was horrified by his driving. I tried hard to correct his driving but failed as he said I didn’t know what I was talking about and he had passed. As he then managed to write off 3 cars in 2 years,(non hurt anyone or where caused because he’d been drinking) I think I was right. Those that teach should be tested regularly, those that break driving rules more then twice/three times should have to attend a course where they are accessed and if real bad banned from driving.
Noted that 24% of deaths are over 70 but did they cause the accident or were they victims of a third party . Also what is the percentage of drivers in their 20’s . I think it is higher .
It’s always easy to blame the over 70’s but new drivers are far more likely to be involved in accidents whether involving fatalities or not, the majority simply think that once the test is passed then there’s no more to learn.I think that like with motor cycles there should be a power limit on their cars for at least the first 3 years if not longer.
100% agree with Harv here, as both a car driver and long time motorcycle rider, I feel new drivers should have a bhp restriction on the cars they can drive for up to 5 years. Right now if a 17 old has the funds they can pass their test and jump straight into a car of considerable power…first time drivers driving around in a machine weighing over a ton with bhp ‘s of a 150 -200 is ridiculous and proven to be a recipe for disaster!
I question whether lowering the alcohol limit will actually reduce alcohol related road deaths, as people who simply don’t care and regularly drink drive will continue to do so…
I agree 24% of drivers killed are over 70 which means 76% are under 70 so who are safer
Need action quickly on the headlight problem
Yes. It’s become a hazard to every driver who is not eye level with a modern Range Rover. Shorter cars allow the dazzling LEDs to hit the other driver right in the eyes. I use night polarised yellow glasses to help with this- but it’s still a hazard.
They need to increase the age for drivers, at least 18/19 years old
All drivers should have a sight test. I have been having since I was 40 and am now nearing 70. Sight can deteriorate at any age
Not clear how to vote !
I would prefer a driving test for older drivers but not the same as the normal test & query how you get the extra examiners.
desperately need legislation to STOP resale of tests for gain
i also would query the statistics used above, they are incomplete and used just to worry. When statistics are published they should publish all variations or nothing
For info i am an 81 year old driver
In principle I agree with all the propsals BUT the statement that 24% of drivers killed were over 70 means nothing. how many of the 24% were killed by others driving badly. Were all the 24% responsible for their own deaths? The statistic may be correct but missleading!!!!
If 24% of road deaths are over the age of 70, then 76% are under the age of 70. Surely some form of regular testing should be introduced for this vast amount, even more urgently than for the over 70’s!!!
All drivers no matter what age should have an eye test, and quality of new drivers is appalling are examiners passing people just to make a quota
I think a mandatory re-test on all young drivers every 3 yrs is a good idea. It will drill back into their heads how dangerous a speeding car can be. And get rid of any dangerous driving habits they are forming. Until the age of 25 do these tests.
The penalties for drink / drug driving and knowingly driving without insurance clearly aren’t strict enough. Keep raising them until the offence rates reduce. Second offence penalties should be first offence penalty times 10. Start issuing life time bans. People are choosing to break the law and need to stop.