A decade of targeted investment and research by The Road Safety Trust has helped shape road safety policy.

Moreover, it has contributed to measurable reductions in casualties across Britain.

These are the conclusions of its newly published “Decade of Impact” report.

Evidence led

The report highlights how the Trust, established to fund evidence-based road safety initiatives, has played a pivotal role in building a national evidence base, supporting frontline interventions and accelerating the adoption of proven safety measures.

Over the past ten years, the Trust has awarded more than £13 million in grants to 130 projects spanning engineering, education, enforcement and technology.

These initiatives range from improving motorcycle safety markings to developing data systems that help identify high-risk locations and behaviours.

Produced by transport consultancy Systra, the study also shows how the Government is drawing on Trust-funded research when shaping road safety policy.

The Department for Transport’s (DfT) latest Road Safety Strategy includes several initiatives backed by this work, including motorcycle safety markings and data-led approaches to collision prevention.

It also found that 98% of grantees said their work would not have progressed without Trust funding, while several projects have produced practical tools and guidance for frontline use.

Making a real difference

Central to the findings is the scale of influence these projects have achieved.

Of the 74 completed schemes assessed, 53 demonstrated clear evidence of positive road safety impacts, either already in place or expected in the future.

Crucially, many of these projects have moved beyond research into real-world applications.

The report notes that 17 initiatives have already produced practical tools, systems or guidance that can be implemented directly by local authorities, police forces and road safety professionals.

This emphasis on practical delivery has been key to the Trust’s impact, according to its Chief Executive, Ruth Purdie.

“At the heart of our work is a clear vision: zero deaths and serious injuries on UK roads,” she said. “Over the past decade, our funding has identified critical evidence gaps, supported groundbreaking research, and equipped those working across the road safety system with the practical tools to prevent harm and save lives.”

Funding and facilitating

The report also underlines the Trust’s role as a catalyst for innovation, often funding projects in areas overlooked by other organisations. 

The fact that 98% of grant recipients state their work would not have gone ahead without Trust funding highlights its importance in unlocking new approaches to road safety.

While it is difficult to isolate the direct impact of any single organisation on national casualty figures, the Trust’s work has contributed to a broader long-term downward trend in UK road deaths and serious injuries.

Government data shows that fatalities and serious injuries have generally declined over recent decades, although progress has slowed in recent years.

Latest figures indicate that 29,467 people were killed or seriously injured on UK roads in 2024, a slight year-on-year reduction, but still a stark reminder of the scale of the challenge.

Safety experts say the Trust’s focus on evidence-led interventions is particularly important at a time when casualty reduction has plateaued.

“The easy wins in road safety have largely been achieved,” said one industry commentator. “What organisations like the Road Safety Trust bring is the ability to test, prove and scale the next generation of solutions—whether that’s new infrastructure design, better data or behavioural interventions.”

Encouraging a new approach

Examples of Trust-funded work already influencing policy include projects incorporated into the Department for Transport’s road safety strategy, demonstrating how research can translate into nationwide change.

The report also highlights the growing importance of data-driven approaches.

Initiatives such as improved collision data analysis and targeted interventions are helping authorities better understand risk and allocate resources more effectively.

However, the Trust warns that progress remains fragile.

Despite incremental improvements, casualty figures have stabilised in recent years, with particular concern around vulnerable road users such as pedestrians and motorcyclists.

A lack of national government road safety targets under Conservative governments over the last 15 years, and therefore a lack of focus on the issue, has long been highlighted by road safety professionals.

They believe this has led directly to a lack of progress in reducing road casualty numbers over the period.

Purdie added: “Every life lost, or changed through serious injury, is one too many. This is the moment for leadership and ambition to address the stubborn risks that remain.”

The long road

Looking ahead, the Trust says its role will continue to focus on funding innovation, sharing knowledge and ensuring that successful interventions are scaled up nationally.

As Britain seeks to move closer to its long-term goal of zero road deaths, with the Government recently publishing its long-awaited Road Safety Strategy, the “Decade of Impact” report makes clear that sustained investment in research and practical solutions will be essential.

While challenges remain, the evidence suggests that targeted, evidence-led action, of the kind championed by the Road Safety Trust, can play a significant role in reducing casualties and making UK roads safer for all.

Read the report here.