About this project

This project examines the major changes in strategy, actions, resources, road casualties and research since 2010. A period in which there have been spending cuts, increased devolution and, in England, a move away from target-setting towards greater autonomy for local authorities (‘localism’) which, combined, have profoundly affected road safety.

Project background

At the time of this study, the road accident data for 2014 had just been released which showed a marked increase in the number and rate of personal injury collisions (PICs) in 2014 compared to the previous year. The data showed a 4% annual increase in the number of people killed on the roads and a 5% annual increase in the number seriously injured. This was the second time in the previous four years that the number killed or seriously injured (KSI) on our roads had increased, against a long-term backdrop of continual reduction.

The previous five years in road safety can be described as a time of significant change and these figures come against a backdrop of reduced spending on road safety at local level and a concern that the lack of a national target has led to a lack of focus and loss of impetus particularly in England.

The study is based on key documents, government statistics, workshops with a range of stakeholders, and a survey of local authorities in England, outside London.

Project aims & objectives

The aim of this project was to provide an overview of progress in road safety between 2010 and early 2015. Its purpose was to provide an evidence base for the new road safety strategy that the 2015 incoming UK Government needed to draw up.

The report assesses, at a high level, the progress of road safety since 2010 against five criteria:

1. Leadership and strategy
2. Actions to improve road safety
3. Resources and capacity
4. Casualty and safety indicators
5. Research, data and analysis.

Project timescales

An interim report was produced in May 2015 with the final project report being published in September 2015.

Project partners

This project was researched by the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety (PACTS) and Road Safety Analysis (RSA) Ltd and funded by PACTS and the RAC Foundation.

For more information

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