UK Roads Policing Review Call for Evidence

13 July 2020

Since 2010 UK along with many other developed countries has  seen a plateauing in the number of people killed and seriously injured on our roads after years of steadily declining numbers. The London government is determined to improve the current situation. For this reason, the Department for Transport (DfT) has instituted a roads policing review working with the Home Office, the National Police Chiefs’ Council and other agencies.

Calling for evidence, Baroness Vere of Norbiton,  Parliamentary Under Secretary of State says: ' As part of this wide-ranging review we are exploring how we can better use intelligence to target dangerous behaviours, how technology can assist in enforcing road traffic law now and in the future and also how to better understand the value of enforcement in influencing road user behaviour and the current enforcement capability. This call for evidence seeks to identify what makes a difference and how the capability and capacity of enforcement services can be enhanced. This call for evidence is part of a wider review which includes a thematic inspection of roads policing conducted by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) commissioned by the department.'

The review seeks to:

• identify which current methods are most effective
• understand how the capability and capacity of enforcement services can be enhanced to improve safety and reduce future casualties on roads

As part of the review the government is exploring how:

• to better use intelligence to target dangerous behaviours
• technology can assist in enforcing road traffic law now and in the future
• and to better understand the value of enforcement in influencing road user behaviour

In encouraging wide response to the review, the minister adds: 'I encourage everyone to respond so that we can build the fairest and most operationally effective enforcement capability in police and other agencies to deliver the best outcome for the safety of all road users.'

The review is available here together with details of how to respond.

In June PACTS published Roads policing and its implications for road safety. This was independent of the government’s review but it will contribute to many of the questions asked in the call for evidence. The PACTS report identified evidence that well-deigned enforcement action improves compliance with road traffic laws and reduces casualties. It also examined UK trends in enforcement, compliance and casualties since 2010. Sharp reductions in fines issued for failing to wear a seat belt coincided with increased deaths when a seat belt was not worn – 31% of all vehicle occupant deaths in 2019.