National Highways urged to ‘learn lessons’ as nearly half of targets missed
- Safer Highways
- Jul 21
- 1 min read

The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) has advised National Highways to develop a continuous improvement plan after it missed or is likely to miss five of twelve key performance indicators and failed to deliver 11 enhancement commitments during 2020–2025.
While ORR noted improvements and acknowledged the company's commitment to future changes, it decided that no further regulatory action was necessary. National Highways, formerly Highways England, manages England’s major roads and has seen a rise in staff and contractor accident rates, prompting engagement with suppliers to address this issue.
An ORR investigation into performance began last year. ORR chief executive John Larkinson recognised significant progress since 2015 but highlighted missed commitments and emphasised the need for further improvement given tight financial conditions.
A National Highways spokesperson cited achievements including completing 30 major schemes, a 39% reduction in serious road injuries, and environmental progress, despite challenges like planning delays, the pandemic, and inflation, and welcomed continued ORR oversight.
However, some stakeholders and road safety campaigners argue that there remains significant room for improvement.
They point to ongoing concerns over maintenance backlogs, bottlenecks on key routes, and the implementation speed of safety measures.
As government funding is scrutinised and expectations for efficiency and sustainability rise, the pressure is on National Highways to adapt swiftly.
Industry experts suggest that greater collaboration with local authorities and investment in new technologies could further enhance both performance and safety outcomes.
With the next road investment period approaching, all eyes will be on how the company translates these lessons and ambitions into tangible improvements for travellers across the network.
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