Road Safety Strategy Welcomed by Devon and Cornwall Police Commissioner

Alison Hernandez, Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, has welcomed what she described as “potentially life-saving” proposals set out in the Government’s new Road Safety Strategy, announced today.

The strategy is the first of its kind for more than a decade and includes a series of proposed changes aimed at improving safety on roads across Great Britain.

What the strategy proposes

The Government’s Road Safety Strategy includes plans for a lowered drink-drive limit, regular eyesight tests for drivers aged over 70 and the introduction of endorsements for seatbelt offences.

Other proposals include a minimum learning period of up to six months for new drivers, national guidance for road safety education and training, and tougher penalties for adults who fail to ensure child passengers are wearing seatbelts.

📷An image captured by Acusensus AI cameras in Devon & Cornwall showing a driver and child front seat passenger not wearing a seatbelt. The driver is also using a phone. Vision Zero South West has been pioneering the use of AI cameras to detect mobile phone and seatbelt offences for the past three years, which has had a proven positive effect on driver behaviour.

Local context in Devon and Cornwall

In 2024, 55 people were killed on Devon and Cornwall’s roads, with a further 622 seriously injured. Despite these figures, the area has seen a year-on-year reduction in the number of people killed and seriously injured over the past three years.

Alison has made road safety a focus since taking office in 2016 and is also chair of the Vision Zero South West road safety partnership. The group previously took its ‘Road To Zero’ plan to Westminster two years ago, lobbying for many of the changes now included in the strategy.

📷Commissioner Hernandez lobbying MPs at Westminster in 2024 with the Vision Zero South West Road To Zero plan

Commissioner’s response

Alison said: “Overall I welcome today’s strategy from the Government. Road safety has been overlooked for many years now so it’s encouraging to see it back in the spotlight with several potentially life-saving proposals.

“Last year over 1,600 people died on Great Britain’s roads. This isn’t just a number, these are real people killed in tragic and traumatic circumstances, leaving families torn apart. If this number of people were killed in any other way in the UK, there would be a national outcry – and rightly so.

“Everywhere I go in Devon and Cornwall, road safety is mentioned by residents and communities as a concern, which is why it has always been a priority for me – and why all our partners within Vision Zero South West have been working so hard to reduce the number of people killed and seriously injured on our roads.”

📷The Motorcycle Road Safety Simulator which was funded by Vision Zero South West and the DfT to deliver hazard perception training to new and young motorcycle users

Focus on vulnerable road users

Alison said the strategy supports much of the work already underway locally and reflects changes the partnership has been calling for.

She said: “Our collective work has always been grounded in the Safe System approach and has always looked to prioritise the most vulnerable road users – particularly motorcyclists, young drivers and older drivers – all of whom overrepresented in collisions here in Devon and Cornwall.

“The introduction of eyesight and general health tests for older motorists would be a vital step in protecting road users. Health deterioration is an inevitable part of ageing and can have a huge impact on driving ability and consequently the safety of all road users. Devon & Cornwall has an increasing ageing population and has also seen a rise in the number of collisions involving older drivers, so this is a firm priority for our road safety partnership.”

📷Alison Hernandez and Prof Tim Nutbeam at the launch of IMPACT: The Centre for Post-Collision Research, Innovation and Translation - which is funded by Vision Zero South West.

Technology and enforcement

Alison also welcomed proposals for mandatory vehicle safety technologies such as autonomous braking and lane-keeping assistance.

She said: “I also welcome the proposals for mandatory vehicle safety technologies such as autonomous braking and lane-keeping assistance which would help us keep pace with Europe. The Safe System approach is underpinned by the fact that human beings will make mistakes, so the adoption of technology to mitigate those mistakes is an obvious and important step towards preventing harm.

“Similarly, immediate suspensions for those suspected of drink and drug driving offences is a no-brainer for me. Impaired drivers cause so much harm on our roads and should not be allowed to pose a continued threat while under investigation simply due to a legislative loophole.”

The Vision Zero South West partnership is expected to submit a formal response to the strategy and is awaiting further detail on the level of Government investment.

More information can be found via the Road Safety Strategy.

📷Learn2Live, funded by Vision Zero South West, is a theatre-style road safety presentation which is delivered to around 14,000 young people in Devon and Cornwall every year.