RoSPA urges action as pedestrian deaths hit 400 annually

On Sunday 17 August, road safety campaigners will remember Bridget Driscoll, who was killed by a driver of a motor vehicle in 1896, and was the first recorded road fatality. Since then, there have been over 500 thousand fatalities on British roads.

RoSPA uses this anniversary to highlight the urgent need for the government to adopt two critical reforms: introduce a road safety strategy for England and establish a dedicated body to investigate serious road incidents. 

Rebecca Guy, senior policy manager at RoSPA said, “For the past few years, England has remained the only UK nation without a refreshed national road safety strategy in place. The news that Labour will be publishing its own in the Autumn is a welcome move, but it is vital that it is a coordinated framework with clear targets and accountability to reduce fatalities and serious injuries. 

“Secondly, unlike aviation and rail, road collisions are not routinely investigated by an independent authority. RoSPA supports the creation of a specialist body to examine serious and fatal incidents, identify systemic risks, and prevent future tragedies. 

“Bridget Driscoll’s death was the first recorded road fatality in the UK. More than a century later, lives are still being lost unnecessarily. These reforms are essential if we are serious about saving lives.” 

The recommendations are drawn from RoSPA’s recent National Accident Prevention Strategy report, titled Safer Lives, Stronger Nation—a cross-sector initiative aimed at reducing accidental harm across the UK. The strategy outlines a clear roadmap for improving road safety, including additional measures such as Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) to protect young drivers.