The Government has unveiled a new UK Road Safety Strategy with an ambitious aim to halve road deaths by 2035. As serious injury lawyers, this is an objective we strongly welcome. Behind every statistic is a real person, a family, and a life changed forever.

Despite advances in vehicle safety technology, progress in reducing road casualties has slowed. Since 2015, deaths and serious injuries on UK roads have fallen only marginally. For those living with life-changing injuries, and for families coping with sudden loss, that lack of progress has very real and lasting consequences. A renewed focus on prevention is long overdue.

Why prevention matters

At Switalskis, we support individuals and families after the most devastating road traffic collisions, including those involving catastrophic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, amputations and fatalities. In many cases, everyday life changes in an instant. Rehabilitation, long-term care, loss of independence and financial uncertainty quickly become part of daily reality.

That is why prevention must sit at the heart of any meaningful road safety strategy.

Labour’s proposals include consultation on stronger drink and drug driving limits, improved training and learning periods for new drivers, and mandatory eyesight testing for older motorists. If implemented effectively, these measures have the potential to address known risk factors and reduce the likelihood of serious and fatal collisions.

Young and inexperienced drivers remain disproportionately represented in serious crashes, while impairment whether through alcohol, drugs or deteriorating eyesight continues to play a role in avoidable harm. Addressing these risks is not about blame. It is about protecting everyone who uses our roads.

Turning policy into real-world change

The success of this strategy will depend on how quickly its proposals are translated into law, how consistently they are enforced, and whether enforcement, education and testing are properly resourced on the ground. Without this, even the strongest policies risk falling short of their potential.

The proposed creation of a Road Safety Investigation Branch could mark an important step forward. By analysing collision patterns using police and healthcare data, it offers the opportunity to better understand why serious and fatal collisions happen and how they can be prevented. For families who have lost loved ones, meaningful investigation and accountability are vital.

Protecting the most vulnerable road users

Any credible road safety strategy must fully reflect the needs of vulnerable road users, including pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists. These groups are far more likely to suffer catastrophic or fatal injuries in collisions, even at lower speeds.

We regularly support cyclists and motorcyclists whose injuries could have been avoided with better infrastructure, awareness and enforcement. Measures such as safer road design, stronger penalties for dangerous driving, and improved driver education around sharing the road must not be sidelined.

Similarly, children and young people deserve particular attention. The Government’s target to reduce road casualties among under-16s recognises that children are uniquely vulnerable and that preventing harm early has lifelong impact.

Katrina Elsey, Personal Injury Manager and serious injury representative at Switalskis comments:

“As a serious injury representative who sees the devastating impact of road traffic collisions on individuals, families and communities, we know that prevention must be a priority. Measures such as consulting on stronger drink and drug driving limits, improved training for learner drivers and proposals for mandatory eyesight testing for older motorists all have the potential to make a real difference if implemented effectively. However, the success of this strategy will depend on how quickly its proposals are translated into law, how enforcement is resourced on the ground and whether protections for vulnerable road users including pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists are fully realised. Ambition is nothing without action and now is the time to turn vision into real impact on our roads.”

What needs to happen next

Labour’s Road Safety Strategy sets out a clear direction of travel. Now the focus must be on delivery. Translating consultation into legislation, ensuring enforcement is properly resourced, and placing vulnerable road users at the centre of reform will determine whether this strategy achieves its aims.

Ambition alone is not enough. Real, sustained action is what will ultimately save lives and prevent life-changing injuries on our roads.

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a road traffic collision , our specialist serious injury team is here to provide clear advice, practical support and compassionate guidance at every stage.