Government’s new Road Safety Strategy could mean lower drink-drive limits

The Government has unveiled its first comprehensive Road Safety Strategy in more than ten years, setting out a long‑term plan to transform safety standards for drivers across the country.

This includes consultations to lower the drink-drive limit in England and Wales, introduce mandatory eye testing for the over-70s and toughen rules for learner drivers. Cracking down on Illegal number plates are also part of the plans.

At the heart of the strategy is an ambitious commitment to cut deaths and serious injuries on Britain’s roads by 65% by 2035.

Four people lose their lives on UK roads every day, and thousands more suffer life‑changing injuries each year.

The Government believes that many of these incidents are avoidable, and that focused action on speeding, drink and drug driving, seat‑belt compliance and mobile‑phone use could prevent countless tragedies.

The strategy will also aim to improve training for young drivers and introduce mandatory eye tests for older motorists. 

Additional enforcement will also target uninsured vehicles and those being driven without a valid MOT.

RAC head of policy Simon Williams said: “Every law-abiding driver pays more for their motor insurance because they end up having to bear the cost of collisions involving uninsured drivers.

“Given the high cost of motoring, including insurance, it’s positive to see action being taken in this area but police enforcement is also essential to ensure any new penalties are truly effective.” 

• Eyesight requirements for drivers
• Driving without insurance – here are the consequences
• MOT checklist
• What is an alcolock?

Drink driving

Ministers plan to launch a consultation on lowering the drink‑drive limit in England and Wales, which has remained unchanged since 1967 and is currently the highest in Europe.

In 2023, one in six fatal crashes involved alcohol, prompting proposals to explore new preventative tools such as alcohol‑interlock devices and expanded powers to suspend licences for suspected drink or drug drivers.

Under these plans, some offenders could be required to have an interlock fitted before being allowed back behind the wheel.

Research for the RAC Report on Motoring 2025 also found rates of admitted drink-driving are near pre-pandemic levels, with more than one-in-10 respondents (12%) saying they’d driven when they thought they were over the limit, either directly after drinking or on the morning after.

The figures for younger drivers were even more pronounced, with 14% of those aged 25-44 admitting to drink driving, and as many as 18% of those under 25.

RAC head of policy Simon Williams said: “Drivers tell us they strongly support more being done to cut the harm caused by drink and, increasingly, drug-drivers – and this includes reducing England’s drink-drive limit, with only one-in-five drivers thinking it should remain as it is.

“But given a lower limit is unlikely to deter those people who are intent on driving while impaired, the commitment to investigate the benefits of alcolocks is an equally significant step forward in making the roads safer.

“This technology is globally proven to save lives by preventing convicted drink-drivers from getting behind the wheel drunk again. Our research has found it has broad backing from the motoring public.”

MORE: Drink driving statistics for the UK

Young drivers

Young drivers remain a significant concern. Although motorists aged 17–24 make up only 6% of licence holders, they are involved in nearly a quarter of serious and fatal collisions.

To improve safety, the Government will consult on introducing a minimum learning period of three or six months, giving learners more time to gain experience in challenging conditions such as night‑time driving, poor weather, and heavy traffic.

RAC road safety spokesperson Rod Dennis said: “The tragic statistics speak for themselves – young drivers are involved in a disproportionately high number of fatal and serious collisions.

“Understandably, families want something done. Passing the practical test is a key milestone and the more preparation new drivers have, the safer they should be when they take to the roads on their own.

“But there’s an opportunity for the Government go further to ensure the next generation of drivers are the safest they can be as they begin their driving careers.

“For instance, making black-box telematics insurance mandatory for at least the first year after passing the driving test could be extremely beneficial as it closely monitors behaviour at the wheel. This can even lead to lower motor insurance costs for the safest drivers.”

MORE: Learning to drive? Read our helpful guides

Illegal number plates

The strategy will also tackle the rise of illegal number plates, including so‑called ghost plates designed to evade camera detection.

In December, an All-Party Parliamentary Group for Transport Safety (APPGTS) launched a report following a cross-party inquiry into vehicle registration plates, following calls from MPs and experts who had drawn attention to a crisis in road safety. 

The UK’s advanced Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) system, now capturing around 90 million reads each day across more than 18,000 cameras, is being critically undermined by weak regulation of number plate production, supply, and a lack of enforcement.

As many as one in fifteen vehicles may carry modified, non-compliant plates including ‘ghost’ and stealth plates designed to evade ANPR detection. 

Furthermore, an inquiry heard from National Trading Standards that “ghost plates pose a serious threat to counter-terrorism operations”.

RAC head of policy Simon Williams said: “It’s very positive the Government has recognised the rise in ‘ghost’ or ‘stealth’ plates as an increasingly serious problem as no driver should be able to evade detection from enforcement cameras.

“But the issue needs to be tackled on multiple fronts. All existing illegal number plates must be identified and replaced as a matter of urgency, and crucially higher security standards must be introduced for all new plates. And all those who produce them should also be under greater scrutiny.”

MORE: Illegal number plates – all you need to know

What else has been announced?

Over the last ten years, 22 European nations have outpaced the UK in cutting road deaths, pushing Britain down from third to fourth place in continental safety rankings. In response, the Government has set out a new, long‑term strategy to improve the situation.

Drivers in Britain aged 70 and above would be required to undergo compulsory eyesight tests every three years under proposed updates to the country’s driving regulations. The measure is intended to ensure older motorists maintain safe vision standards, strengthening road‑safety rules as the population of senior drivers continues to grow.

At its core, the plan adopts the internationally recognised Safe System model, which accepts that human mistakes are unavoidable, but insists that fatal and life‑changing injuries do not have to be.

Instead of placing the burden solely on individual drivers, the approach ensures that road design, vehicle standards, enforcement, and public education all work together to create a safer environment for everyone.

A newly established Road Safety Investigation Branch will study collision trends in depth, using linked police and healthcare data to uncover underlying causes and shape more effective prevention measures.

The strategy also introduces 18 mandatory vehicle‑safety technologies, such as autonomous emergency braking and lane‑keeping assistance.

Secretary of State for Transport, 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 while other countries have moved ahead.

 “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."