The UK government is preparing a significant overhaul of road signage and official safety communications.

These include replacing the wording of signs and notifications, and even exploring interactive signs for foreign drivers.

This is all part of a new long-term effort to make Britain’s roads safer.

No accident

The changes form part of a new Road Safety Strategy published by the Department for Transport (DfT) earlier this month, which sets out an ambition to cut road deaths and serious injuries by 65% over the next nine years.

Ministers say the proposals reflect a growing recognition that clearer language, better information and smarter technology can all help reduce risk on the road network.

One of the most visible changes is a shift in terminology.

Under the strategy, the government is encouraging public bodies to stop using the word “accident” in favour of “collision”.

The DfT has already adopted this language internally since 2022, and police forces were authorised two years ago to use “collision” on temporary road signs and in-car digital message boards.

National Highways has also confirmed it plans to align its roadside signage and communications with the same approach.

Officials argue that the word “accident” can imply that incidents are unavoidable or without responsibility, whereas “collision” more accurately describes what has happened without suggesting inevitability.

Road safety campaigners have long supported the move, saying language influences how drivers perceive risk and accountability.

Empowering the nation

The strategy also proposes regulatory changes in Wales that would strengthen the status of the Welsh language on the road network.

Under the plans, any new or renewed traffic sign, including temporary signage, would be required to display Welsh text in a position that can be read first.

The move is intended to reinforce the Welsh Language Act by ensuring the language has equal prominence in everyday public settings, including transport.

Alongside changes to wording, the government is rolling out new signs designed to support the transition to electric vehicles.

Directional signs pointing drivers to EV charging hubs are now appearing on major A roads across England.

The DfT hopes clearer, more consistent signage will help reduce so-called “range anxiety” and remove one of the perceived barriers to switching away from petrol and diesel cars.

It complements wider efforts to expand the public charging network and make EV travel more straightforward, particularly on longer journeys.

Multilingual routes

Another area under consideration is the use of technology-led, interactive signage to improve safety for overseas drivers.

Highways England has already trialled multilingual signs aimed at foreign-registered heavy goods vehicles, and the government says these could be rolled out on key freight routes such as the M6 and A66.

The system uses automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) to identify vehicles from outside the UK and display safety messages in languages including Polish, Romanian, German and French.

Ministers believe more transparent communication for foreign drivers could help reduce confusion around UK road rules and layouts, particularly at complex junctions or in roadworks.

 

Gathering evidence

All of the proposed measures will remain under consultation until March.

While some changes are already being implemented, the government says feedback from road users, local authorities and industry will help shape how quickly and widely the new signage and standards are introduced.

]Read the official Road Safety Strategy proposals here.