Government launches Road Safety Investigation Branch

In a first, the Government has announced the formation of the UK’s first Road Safety Investigation Branch, a department that will shape future policy and as such, be tasked with improving conditions for vulnerable road users.

A specialist team of inspectors is now to be recruited who will analyse the themes associated with collisions and as part of this will be keeping close tabs on the rollout of new technologies and evolving mobility forms; for example, eScooters, which are now set to be legalised fully.

The establishment of the new division comes on the back of a public consultation, which was broadly supportive of the need to develop a better understanding of the causes of incidents and how to enhance safety for all road users.

Roads Minister Baroness Vere said: “The UK may have some of the safest roads in the world, but tragedies still happen and any injury or death on our road network is one too many.

“That’s why we’re establishing the road safety investigation branch, so we can boost safety for road users even further and also bring safety measures in line with other modes of transport and the future of travel.”

As it stands, data from incidents is centralised via the Collision Reporting and Sharing System (CRASH), Forensic Collision Investigation reports and Prevention of Future Death reports. This information will now be paired with that from insurance companies, emergency services/NHS and even vehicle manufacturers to improve overall safety.

The Road Safety Investigation Branch will not replace police investigation and as such not attribute blame, nor liability. It will instead study the causes and apply learnings to road design and safety schemes, plus policy surrounding for future development.

The Department for Transport expects to include measures to enable the creation of the branch in the forthcoming Transport Bill.