Shaun Davies, Member of Parliament for Telford, has given his support to the Government’s new Road Safety Strategy, which aims to cut road deaths and serious injuries by 65% within a decade.
The Strategy, which also contains a target of 70% fewer road deaths and serious injuries for children under 16 by 2035, is Britain’s first in more than a decade, and follows Britain falling from third to fourth in Europe’s road safety rankings.
The Strategy sets out a raft of measures – many of which were in Labour’s 2024 election manifesto – including lowering the drink-driving limit, investing in safer infrastructure, introducing a minimum learning period between theory and practical tests, mandatory eyesight tests for over-70s and reforms to motorcycle training. The reforms are backed up by £24bn investment before 2030 to improve motorways and local roads, as well as £616m for walking and cycling infrastructure.
Another reform the Government has proposed is tackling so-called ‘ghost plates’ through tougher MOT and DVLA checks on numberplate readability. Shaun Davies has previously supported a Bill in Parliament that would increase penalties for use of ghost plates.
Shaun Davies MP said: “Telford residents know as well as anyone about the importance of road safety – not just for our drivers but for our pedestrians, our cyclists and most importantly our children. Road safety standards in Britain have slipped in recent years, so I’m pleased the Government is taking firm action – and backing it up with real money – to arrest that skid. I’ll be campaigning to ensure that all reforms put safety first and are fair for all drivers, and I’d encourage all my constituents – whether you drive or not – to take part in the consultations.”
The Secretary of State for Transport, Heidi Alexander MP, said: “Every life lost on our roads is a tragedy that devastates families and communities. For too long, progress on road safety has stalled. This strategy marks a turning point. We are taking decisive action to make our roads safer for everyone, from new drivers taking their first lessons to older motorists wanting to maintain their independence. The measures we are announcing today will save thousands of lives over the coming decade.”
Leader of Telford and Wrekin Council, Lee Carter added “We really welcome this announcement from Government and would urge people to take part in the consultation. We have always invested in trying to make our roads safer in the Borough but ultimately there is only so much that good engineering can do. That’s why we welcome these proposals which start to focus some of the onus onto personal responsibility.”
Five of the individual reforms the Government have proposed are subject to consultations, all of which are open now and will close on 31st March 2026, and can be found here. Residents can submit their views online or fill out a downloadable form.