Road Safety Strategy kicks-starts consultations on proposed law changes
Published: 07/01/2026
Publishing its first Road Safety Strategy today (7 January 2026) the government has taken the first steps towards a number of its proposed measures becoming law.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander says: “Our vision is clear: to ensure that people can travel safely on our roads however they choose. This strategy is not just a document; it is a call to action for government.”
It comes in response to Britain’s inability to reduce the number of deaths and injuries on its roads, which have plateaued in recent years, “in contrast to 22 other European countries which over the last decade reducing road fatalities than the UK” says Ms Alexander.
“With over 1,600 lives lost and 28,000 people seriously injured on our roads in 2024 alone, further action is needed” says the Transport Secretary.
The 60-page strategy is split into four themes, including drivers, collision research, the physical roads and enforcement.
At the same time, six separate consultations – totalling 46,496 words – have been published by the Department for Transport covering specific commitments outlined in the Roads Safety Strategy, to ensure that is more than a ‘wish list’.
Subject to the outcome of the consultations, which all close on 31 March 2026, the next step will be for the government to introduce changes to the law.
An initial examination of the Road Safety Strategy and the associated six consultations does not appear to raise any significant issues that would have adversely impact the Historic Vehicles community, says the Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs (FBHVC).
Says FBHVC Legislation Director Lindsay Irvine: “The FBHVC is traditionally supportive of well-conceived safety initiatives but as with all such consultations, the Federation will examine these in fine detail, and consider them in the context of Historic Vehicles.
“Should we consider that any elements of the proposals being consulted on might unjustifiably harm the operation of any of the many historic vehicle types that our 250,000 affiliated members use on the roads, then we shall not hesitate to respond appropriately.”
In the past decade, the FBHVC has submitted formal responses to 38 government consultations, [https://fbhvc.co.uk/consultations] in pursuit of its principle aim to uphold the freedom to use historic vehicles – of all types – on the road without restriction.
The FBHVC represents more than 550 vehicle clubs and museums and their members. It has recently published the most comprehensive survey https://www.fbhvc.co.uk/survey ever conducted into the UK’s world-leading historic vehicle movement, revealing a thriving and valuable sector that continues to grow.
While the national media has selected some very specific proposals for discussion, the consultations cover more than the initially-reported headlines. A summary of each consultation and links are below. All consultation responses must be made by 31 March 2026
ANNEX - CONSULTATIONS
Consultation: Introducing a minimum learning period for learner car drivers
Proposals include:
- Three or six-month minimum period between passing a car theory test and taking a practical car driving test
- Lower blood-alcohol limit for new drivers (within two years of passing their test)
- Minimum number of supervised practical driving hours
- Creating a mandated learning syllabus
- The ways that any required learning could be conducted
Consultation: Introducing mandatory eyesight testing for older drivers
Proposals include:
- Moving away from the current self-declaration system for eyesight standards for drivers aged 70 and over to mandatory eyesight tests
- Developing options for cognitive testing for older drivers
- Work closely with the national police chiefs’ council to highlight the importance of regular roadside eyesight tests by police for all drivers, ensuring that those drivers who fail to meet the minimum eyesight standards required for driving will have their driving licence revoked by DVLA
- Engage with the regulatory bodies to highlight the importance of healthcare professionals notifying DVLA if their patient is unwilling or unable to notify
Consultation: Proposed changes to penalties for motoring offences
Proposals include:
- Robust enforcement to protect all road users
- Lowering the drink-drive limit - in 2023, 1-in-6 fatalities were drink-drive collisions
- Reviewing the penalties and mandatory training for drink and drug-driving offences, including consulting on the use of alcohol interlock devices for offenders
- New powers to suspend the driving licence for those suspected of committing a drink and/or drug-driving offence, or drivers under investigation for the most serious motoring offences resulting in a fatality or serious injury, before they appear in court. Reducing the time between arrest and sentencing for suspected offenders
- Introducing 3 penalty points for failure to wear a seat belt, and additional penalty points for drivers who do not ensure child passengers wear seat belts
- Taking tougher action - penalty points and vehicle seizure - on those who fail to stop and report collisions, those who choose to drive unlicensed, drive a vehicle with no current keeper, without insurance, and those with no MOT
- Addressing the problem of illegal/fake numberplates, including ‘ghost’ numberplates, with tougher penalties including penalty points and vehicle seizure.
- Introduce a new collaborative Roads Policing Innovation Programme
Consultation: Mandating vehicle safety technologies in GB type approval
Proposals include:
- Introduce the mandatory fitting of 18 safety technologies for specific vehicle categories approved to the unlimited series under the GB type approval scheme
- Outline the transitional arrangements for new vehicle types and their registrations
- Gather views on requirements that may be necessary to ensure the safety technologies are retained and maintained following type approval and registration
- Scope of our proposal requiring mass-produced vehicles to be equipped with new safety technologies
- Appropriateness of setting different application dates for mandatory implementation of the safety technologies for new vehicle types and new registrations
- Requirements that may be necessary to ensure the safety technologies are retained and maintained following type approval and registration
Consultation: Improving moped and motorcycle training, testing and licensing
Proposals include:
- Restrict learner riders to automatic machines if they complete compulsory basic training (CBT) on one
- Introduce a theory test that has to be taken before (or as part of) the CBT course
- Introduce a progressive access training course for riders to upgrade their licence
- Update the CBT syllabus
- Change the way motorcycle instructors qualify
- Change how long CBT certificates are valid for
- Develop a digital service to manage the administration of CBT courses
Consultation: Reviewing the law for powered mobility devices
https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/reviewing-the-law-for-powered-mobility-devices
Note: Although this consultation is not specifically referenced in the Road Safety Strategy, it was also published on 7 January 2026 and follows a Government promise on 21 July 2025 that it would undertake a formal review of the law governing powered mobility devices, some of which can be used on public roads.
Proposals include:
- Updating the words we use in law to describe powered wheelchairs and mobility scooters and who can use them
- Where these devices can be used – on roads, pavements or elsewhere
- Changing the rules around size, speed and age for using larger devices
- Whether people should be allowed to carry a passenger
- Whether other types of devices should be allowed on public roads or pavements when used by disabled people or a person with reduced mobility
Other actions from the Road Safety Strategy
- The government will pilot a National Work-Related Road Safety Charter for businesses that require people to drive or ride for them. This includes the use of HGVs, Light Good Vehicles (LGVs), cars, motorcycles, e-cycles and cycles
- the government will publish national guidance on the development and delivery of road safety education, training and publicity. Alongside this, the government will publish a manual to support the implementation of a Lifelong Learning approach for road safety.
- The government will continue to encourage safer road user behaviours via THINK!
- Support for victims of road traffic collisions : The Ministry of Justice will consult on a new Victims’ Code
- Getting the language right. The term ‘accident’ can imply events are unavoidable or without fault. Since September 2022, the DfT has replaced ‘Accident’ with ‘Collision’ in official communications, aligning with the emergency services and specialist providers. In November 2024, the DfT authorised police to use the word ‘Collision’ instead of ‘Accident’ on police temporary road signage and in-car digital message boards. National Highways also plans to adopt ‘Collision’ in roadside signage and communications. Changes will be made gradually to minimise operational impacts and costs. Use of ‘Accident’ will continue only where required by specific legislation. The government encourages the use of ‘Collision’ in place of ‘Accident’ in discussions of road safety, including by local authorities and within media reporting.
- The government is consulting on mandating the fitting of 18 new safety technologies for new mass-produced cars
- Safe roads and roadsides, and speed management are important in ensuring road safety. The government will publish a new edition of the best practice guidance ‘Setting Local Speed Limits’ and will update separate guidance on the use of speed and red-light cameras.
- To ensuring commitments are delivered, the government will establish a new Road Safety Board
