Committees

Committee scrutinises Government's approach to road safety

11 March 2019

Despite a reduction of more than 40 percent in the number of fatal road traffic accidents from 2007-2012, there has been no reduction over the last five years.

Scope of the inquiry

The Transport Committee is concerned that progress increasing levels of road safety has levelled off and is launching an inquiry to scrutinise the Government's approach to road safety, last set out in its 2015 road safety statement. The inquiry will investigate which changes would be most effective at reducing the number and severity of road traffic accidents.

Chair's comments

Launching the inquiry, Chair of the Committee, Lilian Greenwood MP, said:

“In 2017, almost 1800 people died in road traffic accidents on the UK's roads. While there are far fewer fatalities than there were in 2007, that figure is still too high, and hasn't fallen at all in the last five years.

“We want to know what should be done to bring down the number of accidents.  We are keen to hear from everyone who feels our roads could be safer and has ideas on how to make it happen. 

“Are you a road safety campaigner or a road user group? A local authority? Do you run a business which employs drivers? Or do you see your children off to school with concerns about their journey? We want to know what you think. Tell us how to make our roads safer. This could be anything from the use of technology to make cars and roads safer, to road safety around schools. Your input will help us to decide which issues we will investigate in more detail.”

Call for evidence 

The Committee is calling for evidence on the following questions:

  • How effective is the Government's current approach to road safety?
  • Are there any areas where the Government's current approach to road safety could be improved?
  • What interventions would be most effective at reducing the number and severity of road traffic accidents?
  • What evidence is there on the effectiveness of these interventions?
  • How can interventions to reduce the number and severity of road traffic accidents best be implemented?

Once the deadline for written submissions had passed, the Committee will identify which areas it will investigate in more detail.

The deadline for written submissions is 18 April, 2019.

Send a written submission to the Transport Committee's inquiry on road safety

Further information

Image: PA