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Road Safety 2026-02-05
05 February 2026
Lead MP
Anna Dixon
Debate Type
General Debate
Tags
Defence
Other Contributors: 27
At a Glance
Anna Dixon raised concerns about road safety 2026-02-05 in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
Opened the debate
Road safety is a personal issue for me as my grandfather died in a road accident. Despite improvements, four people still die on our roads every day and 76 more are injured seriously. The fatal five causes of deadly crashes include speeding, antisocial driving, mobile phone use, alcohol/drug use, and not wearing seatbelts. Measures to tackle these issues include harsher penalties for speeding, stricter post-test requirements, lower drink-drive limits, points for passengers not wearing seatbelts, tougher action on non-reporting collisions, illegal number plates, and community concern sites. The road safety strategy aims to reduce the death toll by 65% by 2035 with a vision of zero deaths in West Yorkshire by 2040.
Mike Martin
LD
Tunbridge Wells
Supports reducing the drink-driving limit to the lowest possible level, suggesting pilots' standards as an example.
James Wild
Con
North West Norfolk
Welcomes Government’s road safety strategy but highlights low awareness of highway code and slow process for reviewing or reducing speed limits. Supports speeding measures but suggests caution regarding the proposal to reduce the drink-driving limit, as offences are typically caused by those who greatly exceed the limit.
Amber Valley
Suggests a campaign for greater awareness among experienced drivers about the changes in highway code since 2022.
Scott Arthur
Lab
Edinburgh South West
Supported the proposals introduced by Mr Dillon for setting a required speed and distance when passing horses, as well as teaching equestrian safety in driving education. Cited over 3,000 incidents involving dangerous passing of horses on roads connecting bridleways.
David Williams
Lab
Stoke-on-Trent North
Welcomed the Labour Government's new road safety strategy and highlighted Sharlotte’s law as a campaign to address gaps in road traffic law concerning unconscious persons. Cited delays in investigations due to reliance on consent for testing blood samples.
Adam Jogee
Lab
Newcastle-under-Lyme
Supported the need for Staffordshire county council to take action following a case involving his constituent who was knocked down while taking their daughter to school. Emphasised the urgency of addressing road safety issues.
Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire
Called for graduated driving licence schemes to reduce the number of serious incidents involving young drivers, citing statistics showing one in five new drivers involved in an accident within their first year.
Peter Prinsley
Lab
Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket
Agreed that graduated driving licence schemes could be effective based on evidence from Western Australia and Victoria, urging the Minister to consider international lessons.
Andy MacNae
Lab
Rossendale and Darwen
Highlighted road safety as a top issue in his constituency, advocating for more proactive community-led approaches. Emphasised the need for local authorities to retain fees from fixed penalty fines to better resource road safety efforts.
Suffolk Coastal
Intervened to correct outdated guidance that suggests a certain number of incidents are required before intervention is deemed necessary. Supported the idea that community concerns should be addressed proactively.
Liz Twist
Lab
Blaydon and Consett
Congratulated Anna Dixon on securing this important debate. Welcomed the Government’s announcement of a new road safety strategy which aims to reduce deaths and serious injuries by 65%. Highlighted issues such as speeding and unsafe junctions in her constituency, proposing that proximity to schools should be an essential consideration when determining speed limits.
Aphra Brandreth
Con
Chester South and Eddisbury
Asked Liz Twist if she agreed that proximity to schools should be treated as a crucial factor in setting safe speed limits, citing concerns about children navigating fast-moving traffic near their nurseries and schools.
Dwyfor Meirionnydd
Mourned the loss of Mathew Hardy, a young man from Pwllheli who was killed in a two-car collision. Advocated for graduated driving licences as they have been shown to reduce young driver casualties significantly and save lives. Also suggested monitoring Northern Ireland’s approach to graduated licences which starts from October 2023.
Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey
Suggested that the UK Government could proactively engage with Scotland's willingness to trial things such as graduated licences and other road safety measures proposed by Fiona Hyslop.
Terry Jermy
Lab
South West Norfolk
Paid tribute to Salvador Modke, a 15-year-old who was tragically killed on London Road in Thetford while crossing the street. Highlighted that his death brought attention to subpar safety measures at pedestrian crossings which will now be assessed for improvement.
Sarah Olney
LD
Richmond Park
I dedicate my speech to a friend who lost her adult son in a road traffic collision. I welcome the new road safety strategy, particularly addressing young people involved disproportionately in accidents and drivers aged 17-24 accounting for 24% of fatal and serious collisions. Drunk driving remains an issue despite THINK! campaign efforts. Cyclists face dangers on roads leading to incidents such as my constituent hit by an e-bike rider who preferred pavements due to road safety concerns.
Rachel Hopkins
Lab
Luton South and South Bedfordshire
Welcomes Labour's steps to improve road safety including funding and the new strategy. Highlights drug driving as a growing concern with 70% increase in drivers killed in fatal collisions between 2014-2023. Commends police powers for immediate licence suspensions, roadside testing improvements, and tackling pavement parking issues.
Brian Leishman
Lab
Alloa and Grangemouth
Thanks Anna Dixon for securing the debate. Attended a Safe Drive Stay Alive event highlighting John Galloway’s tragic story of his son David, who was hospitalised after an avoidable accident and now needs feeding through a PEG. Event costs £36k annually with council funding issues threatening its future.
Leigh Ingham
Lab
Stafford
Thanks Anna Dixon for securing the debate. Parish councils push for 20 mph speed limits and action against heavy goods vehicles damaging narrow roads in Bradley. Raised accident hotspots on A519 near Slindon and rural lanes, highlighting Diana Kynaston's concerns about dangerous conditions for motorcyclists.
Jonathan Gullis
Lab
Stafford
Expressed despair at the state of roads in Staffordshire, highlighting that it is the slowest authority at repairing potholes. Asked the Minister about mechanisms to ensure road maintenance funding is used effectively and supports a joined-up approach to road safety.
Josh Newbury
Lab
Cannock Chase
Shared the tragic story of Kevin, a traffic management officer killed during a police pursuit. Emphasised Julie's request for answers about protocols and communication that led to her husband’s death. Welcomed the Government's road safety strategy but urged them to work on protecting those who keep roads safe.
Pam Cox
Lab
Colchester
Discussed increasing deaths on Essex roads, particularly among young people. Highlighted concerns about infrastructure and traffic management on the A12 and A120. Advocated for safety technologies in vehicles, tougher action against drink/drug driving, and improving driver testing periods.
Peter Swallow
Lab
Bracknell
Stressed concerns about uninsured drivers who are statistically more likely to be involved in road accidents. Welcomed the Government's consultation on a review of the motoring offences framework. Also highlighted speeding as a concern for many responsible road users.
Olly Glover
LD
Didcot and Wantage
Discussed human shortcomings in driving, the impact of young male drivers, design issues with roads, and the importance of enforcement, cycle training, and better support for new drivers. Also highlighted pedestrian and cyclist responsibilities.
Greg Smith
Con
Mid Buckinghamshire
Acknowledged the need to stop terrible road accidents from occurring again in the future. Supported measures like stronger fines for egregious offences but emphasised the importance of enforcement.
Anna Dixon
Lab
Shipley
The MP stressed the need for targeted responses towards drug driving and highlighted statistics showing a significant increase in drug-impaired drivers involved in fatal accidents. She also mentioned concerns over road safety measures such as 20 mph limits being undermined when drivers do not perceive their necessity.
James Wild
Con
North West Norfolk
Though his specific contributions are not detailed, he addressed the need for action to reduce speed and contributed to discussions on road safety measures.
Government Response
Acknowledging the debate's significance, Minister Greenwood praised the contributions made by MPs. She highlighted the Government’s new road safety strategy aimed at reducing road fatalities and serious injuries by 65% by 2035. The strategy includes measures such as updating local authority guidance on speed limits and investing in additional police officers to enforce traffic laws. Additionally, she mentioned consultations on graduated driving licences and mandatory eye tests for older drivers.
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