Funding Cut Looms for National Highways’ Driving for Better Business Programme

National Highways’ Driving for Better Business (DfBB) programme is set to see its funding halved for the next financial year, according to sources familiar with the matter.

The reduction comes just weeks after the initiative was highlighted in the Government’s new road safety strategy.

The strategy notes that approximately one in three road traffic fatalities involve someone driving or riding for work, prompting plans for a National Work-Related Road Safety Charter pilot. Ministers have said the charter will be developed in collaboration with businesses and industry, drawing on existing schemes such as the Driving for Better Business programme.

Fleet News reports that details on the programme’s future funding are included in a draft business plan submitted by National Highways in response to the Government’s draft Road Investment Strategy (RIS). Sources indicate that the programme’s annual budget could drop from around £750,000 to £375,000 for 2026/27.

A Brief History of Driving for Better Business

Launched in 2007 at the Commercial Vehicle Show, the programme was managed by RoadSafe and funded by the Department for Transport (DfT). Its goal was to create a network of business champions who would promote best practices in work-related road safety and encourage other fleets to do the same.

In 2010, austerity measures led the coalition Government to withdraw funding, leaving the programme at risk of fading away. However, it was revitalised when Highways England (now National Highways) incorporated it into its performance targets, aimed at reducing killed or seriously injured (KSI) incidents on the strategic road network and minimising disruption caused by traffic incidents.

Since then, the programme has grown significantly, and in 2025 it won Support Services Provider of the Year and Fleet Supplier of the Year at the Fleet News Awards.

Programme Reach and Resources

The Driving for Better Business programme currently engages with around 435,000 businesses through its network of partners and community initiatives. In 2022, a new online portal was launched, allowing organisations to monitor progress via a personalised dashboard, share responsibilities within teams, and benchmark themselves against best practices.

The portal includes a gap analysis tool to identify weaknesses, a resource library with videos, information cards, and PDFs, and practical tools to address driver compliance. In 2024, following research showing that over 27% of employers lacked a documented HSE-compliant ‘Driving at Work’ policy, the programme introduced an interactive Driving for Work Policy Builder to help companies meet legal requirements.

Additional initiatives include a free video podcast series and an online course designed to help fleets manage driver mental health, launched in 2025.

Looking Ahead

While National Highways has not provided specific details on the funding changes, a spokesperson confirmed the organisation remains committed to the programme:

“National Highways funding for this programme continues, but we are reviewing it as part of developing our plans for the next road period. As with all our work, we regularly review to ensure we deliver the best value for the taxpayer.”

The potential funding cut has raised questions about how the programme’s reach and impact might be affected, especially as work-related road safety remains a critical concern for businesses and government alike.