The UK Government’s newly announced road safety strategy, which aims to reduce road fatalities and serious injuries by 65% by 2035, is a significant and welcome development. For those of us who work closely with the consequences of road traffic collisions every day, this announcement represents both progress and an opportunity to reinforce the importance of safer roads for everyone.
At Brian Barr Solicitors, we are specialist road traffic collision solicitors with over two decades of experience handling serious injury claims. We are leading specialists in serious and catastrophic injuries and chronic pain litigation, and we see first-hand how devastating road traffic collisions can be, not just in the immediate aftermath, but for years, and often for a lifetime.
Road traffic collisions are distressing and frequently life-altering events. Beyond the initial trauma, victims and their families often face complex medical, financial, and legal challenges. Many of our clients live with long-term or permanent conditions such as chronic pain, fibromyalgia, CRPS, spinal injuries, brain injuries, or other catastrophic harm. These injuries affect every aspect of life – work, relationships, independence, and mental wellbeing.
While reducing numbers and percentages is important, it is vital to remember that each statistic represents a real person and a real family whose life has been changed forever.
The Government’s strategy outlines several important proposals designed to address some of the most common causes of serious and fatal collisions, including:
- Stricter drink-driving laws, marking the first proposed change to the drink-drive limit in nearly 60 years. Currently, England and Wales have a limit of 35 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath (0.08% blood alcohol), unchanged since 1967. Under the new proposals, this could be reduced to 22 micrograms (0.05%), meaning a driver could be over the limit after a single pint or a large glass of wine – similar to the existing limit in Scotland.
- Mandatory eye tests for drivers over 70, ensuring that vision standards remain appropriate for safe driving.
- The introduction of automatic emergency braking in new vehicles, a proven technology that can significantly reduce collisions or lessen their severity.
- Increased penalties for uninsured drivers, addressing a persistent and dangerous issue on UK roads.
- A learning period for young drivers, aimed at developing safer driving habits and improving skills during the highest-risk early years of driving.
Taken together, these measures demonstrate a more preventative, evidence-based approach to road safety, something that we believe has long been needed.
At Brian Barr Solicitors, we are proud to be ambassadors for road safety. Alongside supporting our clients through complex and often challenging legal journeys, we are deeply committed to wider road safety initiatives. We proudly partner with leading charities and organisations across the UK that work tirelessly to reduce collisions, support victims, and promote safer driving behaviours.
We firmly believe that prevention is just as important as access to justice. While our role is to help injured people secure the compensation, care, and support they need, our ultimate goal is to see fewer people harmed in the first place.
The announcement this week and the ambition to reduce fatalities and serious injuries by 65% by 2035 is bold – and rightly so. Achieving it will require not only legislative change, but cultural change: greater awareness, responsibility, and accountability from all road users.
As specialists in serious and catastrophic injury claims, we will continue to advocate for stronger road safety measures, support those whose lives have been affected by collisions, and work with partners across the sector to help make UK roads safer for everyone.
