The government has published its first road safety strategy in over a decade, setting a target to reduce deaths and serious injuries on Britain's roads by 65% by 2035.

The strategy includes consultations on lowering the drink-drive limit in England and Wales, introducing a minimum learning period of three to six months for learner drivers, and mandatory eyesight testing for drivers over 70.

Approximately four people die on Britain's roads daily. In 2023, one in six road fatalities involved drink driving. Drivers aged 17 to 24 represent 6% of licence holders but are involved in 24% of fatal and serious collisions. 

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander 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."

Local Transport Minister Lilian Greenwood said: "Our vision with this ambitious road safety strategy is clear: to ensure that people can travel safely on our roads however they choose."

The strategy aims to adopt the Safe System approach and includes establishing a Road Safety Investigation Branch. It also mandates 18 new vehicle safety technologies, including autonomous emergency braking and lane-keeping assistance.

Edmund King OBE, AA president, said: "This is a positively radical reframing of road safety, which is long overdue."

Click here for more information the government new road safety strategy.