KNOW YOUR RIGHTS NEW ROAD SAFETY STRATEGY
On 7 January, the Government announced its landmark Road Safety Strategy, outlining several proposed changes to road traffic laws with the overall aim of reducing the number of people killed or seriously injured (KSI) on roads in Great Britain by 65 per cent.
This has been described as the biggest change to Britain’s traffic laws in decades. However, it is important to note that at this stage nothing has been confirmed. The Government consultation period runs until at least March, and even after that, before any proposals become law, there will need to be debates, re-drafts, and further discussion – all of which take time.
That said, what we do know is that at some point in the near future many of the proposals below, if not all, are likely to become law.
To achieve its aims, the Government has identified four key areas: Supporting Road Users; Technology, Data and Innovation; Safe Infrastructure; and Tougher Enforcement. Below, we examine the main points within each area that drivers need to be aware of. In particular, the first and fourth areas are likely to bring about the most significant changes for road users and professional drivers.
1. Supporting road users
This area focuses on education and “lifelong learning” to ensure that all road users are competent and responsible.
New drivers: the Government is consulting on the introduction of a minimum learning period for new drivers to help them develop skills in a variety of conditions. This could involve a mandatory 3 - 6 month gap between the theory and practical tests, allowing drivers more time to build experience, together with requirements to learn to drive in different conditions before taking the practical test.
Older drivers: there are proposals for mandatory eyesight testing every three years for drivers aged over 70, with failure resulting in refusal of a driving licence.
68 2. Technology, data & innovation
This part of the strategy emphasises the use of data and technology to predict risk and to prevent incidents before they happen.
It focuses primarily on vehicle manufacturing rather than new traffic laws and outlines the potential introduction of up to 18 new safety technologies, such as intelligent speed assistance and autonomous emergency braking, which will be mandatory for all new vehicles.
3. Safe infrastructure
This pillar aims to design roads that are more “forgiving” of human error and that prioritise vulnerable road users. There is relatively little here for drivers to be concerned about, as the focus is largely on road and junction design rather than changes to traffic law.
manuals to reflect modern research, including collision risks at crossings and roundabouts.
4. Tougher enforcement
This is the area where the most significant changes are likely to affect everyday driving.
Lowering the drink-drive limit There is no definitive proposal yet, but it is likely that the drink-drive limit will be lowered to 22 micrograms of alcohol per 100ml of breath. The current limit is 35 micrograms, which - depending on factors such as sex, height, weight, and metabolism - equates to around two units of alcohol. Lowering the limit to 22 would reduce this to approximately one unit and bring England and Wales in line with Scotland. There is also a suggestion that the limit could be reduced even further, potentially to 10 micrograms, for drivers within the first two years of passing their test.
Reviewing penalties for drink and drug driving
While there is no confirmation of what will change, the strategy suggests a consultation on whether minimum sentences should be increased. Currently, a
FEBRUARY 2026 PHTM
Instead, it proposes updating design
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