New report calls for urgent A road action

A new report has called for urgent action on UK’s A roads to reduce collisions and casualties.

The Road Safety Performance and Investment Opportunities, produced by the Road Safety Foundation, has revealed that A roads make up just 13% of the UK road network but account for almost 60% of all fatal crashes and more than 40% of serious road crashes.

Meanwhile, the societal loss attributable to road crashes in 2022 was £43bn, according to the Department for Transport (DfT).

Dr Suzy Charman, executive director of the Road Safety Foundation, said: “There are incredible opportunities to invest in safer road infrastructure across so many of Britain’s motorways and A roads.

“The numbers represent a compelling business case with benefit to cost ratios far in excess of traditional road infrastructure or transport schemes. We must also remember that this presents a unique opportunity to prevent the pain, grief and suffering associated with a large number of road deaths and the turmoil that results from serious injuries.

“The Department for Transport’s Safer Roads Fund provides us with a blueprint of what is possible, and can be readily extended to local authority major roads. It is also vital that the next Road Investment Strategy allocates sufficient funding towards such schemes, particularly if progress is to be made towards the commitment of zero harm on the SRN by 2040.”