Experts are calling on Labour to unveil new measures to protect road users, as current safety strategies are not doing enough to reduce accidents.
A group of road safety experts have come together to highlight issues with road safety and emphasise that more needs to be done to achieve Vision Zero.
This target, which has been adopted around the world, aims to eliminate all deaths and serious injuries from road traffic by a certain target, normally 2050.
The approach was first adopted in Sweden in the 1990s, but has since been accepted as a sensible policy in a number of other countries and cities.
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|Road safety experts are calling for new measures to be introduced to improve road safety
However, the UK does not have a road safety strategy on how to reduce the number of deaths and injuries on the road, unlike the Government's net zero pledges.
Data from the Department for Transport shows that 1,695 people were killed and over 139,000 were reported injured in crashes on the UK's roads in 2023.
Former Transport Secretary Louise Haigh outlined plans for a new Road Safety Strategy to be launched in 2025, although this is yet to be published.
Rebecca Morris, a road safety communications specialist and campaigner, said: "When road deaths and injuries remain this high, we have to ask: where are the Government’s targets to reduce harm - and why is road safety still missing from the national agenda?
GETTY | Mayor Sadiq Khan has used lower speed limits to improve road safety across London
"The UK has made a legal commitment to net zero, with a national strategy guiding every sector of the economy. But when it comes to road deaths? Nothing.
"Communities are living in fear - and we need urgent action, clear targets and national leadership to reduce road harm."
Road safety experts, as well as emergency services and local authorities, have come together through the Vision Zero Community to call for action.
The new platform will see experts and road safety campaigners join forces to petition for greater awareness in reducing deaths and injuries across the road network.
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Morris continued, saying: "Authorities are doing excellent work locally, but we can only go so far on our own.
"This is about creating strength in numbers - and turning our shared commitment into national change."
Other key players included in the Vision Zero Community include the DVSA, IAM RoadSmart, National Highways, RAC Foundation and UKROEd.
Police forces from Essex, Warwickshire, Staffordshire, Surrey, Sussex and West Mercia are also involved in improving road safety.
Vision Zero is already an established goal in London as part of Mayor Sadiq Khan's vision for safer roads and communities, with a target goal of 2041.
As part of the Vision Zero Action Plan, TfL and the Mayor will cut speed limits, introduce vehicle safety mechanisms and a targeted campaign calling on drivers to be aware of other road users.
Dr Elizabeth Box, Behavioural Science Consultant at Co-Pilot, noted that the Community would be stronger and more effective "when we work together".
She added: "In the absence of a joined-up national strategy, the Vision Zero Community gives us a way to connect and align our efforts."