A panel of road safety experts has warned that the UK government's current Road Safety Strategy does not go far enough to achieve its ambitious targets of reducing road deaths by 65% by 2035. In a report to MPs, the experts called for the default speed limit on built-up roads to be reduced to 20mph, citing the need to protect vulnerable road users such as pedestrians and cyclists.
The report, which was presented to the Transport Select Committee, also recommended that speed limiter technology in cars should be permanently switched on. This technology, which can automatically slow down a vehicle if it exceeds a certain speed, is currently only required on new cars to be fitted with speed limiters in 2028, but the experts argue that it should be mandatory at all times.
The panel of experts, which includes representatives from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents and the Road Safety Foundation, also highlighted the need for improved road design and safer junctions to reduce the risk of collisions.
The government's current Road Safety Strategy, which was announced in January, includes measures such as increased funding for road safety initiatives and improved education campaigns. However, the experts argue that more needs to be done to achieve the ambitious targets set by the government.
The Transport Secretary, Mark Harper, has been urged to consider the recommendations made by the panel of experts and to take action to improve road safety in the UK.
The opposition has welcomed the call for tougher action on road safety, with the Labour Party's shadow transport secretary saying that the government's current strategy is 'woefully inadequate' and that more needs to be done to protect vulnerable road users.