Government Unveils Ambitious Road Safety Strategy: Our Summary for UK Haulage

The government has published its first comprehensive Road Safety Strategy in over a decade, setting out a sweeping plan to cut deaths and serious injuries on UK roads by 65% by 2035. For the haulage sector, the strategy signals tighter regulations, new vehicle standards, and renewed enforcement, all of which could directly affect operators, drivers, and fleet managers.

According to Transport UK analysis, the strategy is the government’s most ambitious attempt yet to tackle road casualties, which still see around four deaths a day on British roads. While the headline targets focus on overall safety, the measures have clear implications for freight operators and commercial fleets.

Key Targets and Timelines

• 65% reduction in deaths and serious injuries by 2035.
• 70% reduction in fatalities and serious injuries involving children under 16.

Transport UK spoke to industry experts who stress that while these targets are ambitious, achieving them will require coordinated action across vehicles, infrastructure, and driver behaviour.

What Hauliers Should Know

Enforcement and Driver Regulations

The strategy emphasises stricter enforcement of driver behaviour, including speeding, mobile phone use, and seat belt compliance. For fleet operators, this could mean closer monitoring of drivers’ hours and adherence to safety protocols. Transport UK highlights that the DVSA is likely to step up roadside inspections and operator licence checks in line with the new strategy.

Vehicle Safety Standards

Operators should prepare for accelerated adoption of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) in HGVs, including autonomous emergency braking (AEB) and lane-keeping assistance. The strategy suggests updates to vehicle type-approval rules that could affect new fleet purchases or retrofit requirements.

Road Infrastructure Changes

High-risk routes, particularly urban corridors and accident hotspots, are set for redesign. Transport UK notes that freight routes may see adjustments in junction layouts, speed management, and dedicated HGV lanes, which could impact delivery times and route planning.

Training and Driver Licensing

The government is consulting on minimum learning periods for new drivers and potential cognitive and eyesight checks for older drivers. While currently focused on private drivers, Transport UK expects these measures to influence HGV driver training standards in the coming years, particularly for young recruits entering the logistics sector.

Industry Reaction

Transport UK spoke to several operators, who welcomed the focus on evidence-based safety measures, but cautioned that the practical impact on haulage will depend on enforcement consistency and cost implications. “Safer roads are good for everyone, but operators need clarity on how these rules will apply to commercial fleets,” said one Midlands-based logistics manager.

Looking Ahead

The strategy also introduces a new Road Safety Board and proposes a Road Safety Investigation Branch, modelled on aviation safety oversight, to track accidents and recommend improvements. Transport UK notes that these bodies could influence future legislation affecting commercial vehicles, particularly in areas such as vehicle safety, driver fitness, and incident reporting.

For hauliers, the message is clear: preparation is key. Fleets may need to upgrade vehicles, review compliance procedures, and invest in driver training to stay ahead of evolving rules.

Transport UK will continue to track the rollout of these measures, reporting on policy changes, fleet impacts, and DVSA enforcement updates as the strategy moves from consultation to implementation. Operators are encouraged to stay informed via Transport UK to ensure compliance and maintain operational efficiency in a rapidly changing regulatory environment.

Martin Fryer

Martin Fryer is Managing Director of a specialist haulage company as well as a qualified transport manager with experience across multiple different industries. He holds a BA (Hons) in Logistics and is a chartered member of the Institute of Logistics and Transport.

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