MPs Begin Scrutiny of Government's New Road Safety Strategy

The Transport Committee will launch its examination of the Government's Road Safety Strategy this week as MPs begin gathering evidence for a new parliamentary inquiry into the future of road safety in Great Britain.

The first evidence session, taking place on 3 June at Portcullis House in Westminster, will see committee members hear from a panel of experts representing key organisations involved in transport policy and road safety.

Among those scheduled to provide evidence are Steve Gooding, Director of the RAC Foundation, and Jamie Hassall, Executive Director of the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety (PACTS), alongside other specialists with expertise across the sector.

The inquiry follows the publication of the Government's Road Safety Strategy in January 2026, which set out a long-term ambition to eliminate deaths and serious injuries on Britain's roads. Central to the strategy is a target to reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured in road collisions by 65 per cent by 2035.

During the session, MPs are expected to explore whether the measures outlined in the strategy are sufficient to achieve those ambitions and whether the proposed targets are realistic and deliverable.

Committee members will also examine the evidence underpinning the strategy and consider whether it strikes an appropriate balance between improving road safety and preserving mobility and independence, particularly for older drivers.

Speed management is expected to be a major area of discussion. Witnesses are likely to be questioned on the effectiveness of lower speed limits and the lessons that can be learned from Wales, where a default 20mph speed limit on restricted roads was introduced in 2023.

The committee will also assess the Government's adoption of the Safe System approach to road safety, a framework first developed in Sweden that recognises human error as inevitable and focuses on designing safer roads, vehicles and travel environments to minimise the consequences of collisions.

MPs are expected to explore how effectively the principles of the Swedish model can be applied within the UK and whether there are limitations or challenges associated with implementing the approach on Britain's road network.

The inquiry marks the beginning of a wider parliamentary review of road safety policy and will provide stakeholders with an opportunity to assess the strengths and potential shortcomings of the Government's plans as it seeks to reduce road casualties over the coming decade.

The evidence session is scheduled to begin at 9.15am on Wednesday 3 June in the Grimond Room at Portcullis House.