The National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) has called for further action, including clearer strategies and a consultation on expanded statutory duties, to tackle road deaths and injuries across the UK.
Fire and rescue services (FRS) already play a vital role in road safety, responding to more than 31,000 road traffic collisions in 2023 alone, an increase of above 10% (from 27,930) in 2012-13, according to Home Office data. However, the statutory responsibilities of FRS are limited to preparing for and responding to RTCs, and NFCC is calling on the government to consult on expanding these legal duties to reflect the wide-ranging prevention activities FRS deliver. These include educational campaigns and programmes encouraging people to become safer road users.
Tackling road deaths and injuries
NFCC is also urging the UK government to follow Scotland’s lead and develop a new national road safety strategy for England. It says the strategy should include evidence-based targets for reducing road deaths and serious injuries. It also called on the Welsh government to expedite its ongoing work on a new road safety strategy.
FRS work alongside local authorities, and other emergency services and key stakeholders, as part of Road Safety Partnerships to reduce traffic incidents and promote safer travel. But NFCC says the UK and Welsh governments should consult on establishing standards for those bodies to drive consistency and promote best practice.
Meanwhile, NFCC is adding to the growing chorus of organisations calling for greater intervention to protect high-risk road users with the introduction of graduated driver licensing for those aged 17 to 24. This demographic accounts for a disproportionately high number of road traffic collision fatalities, with around a fifth of collisions involving a car in which someone was killed or seriously injured in 2022 involving a young car driver. International evidence, including that from Australia and Canada, has shown the success of graduated licence systems in reducing crashes and fatalities among young and novice drivers.
NFCC is also calling for road safety themes to be embedded into school curriculums across the UK and Wales, ensuring future generations understand and prioritise safe driving behaviours.
Chief fire officer for Surrey Fire and Rescue Service, Dan Quin, the NFCC’s road safety and road rescue lead said:
“Road safety is a public health priority that requires bold action and coordinated efforts. Fire and rescue services already play a crucial role in keeping people safe on the roads, but we need the government to consider whether our statutory duties should more accurately reflect the full breadth of the work we do and look to support this with adequate funding. Without this our ability to prevent harm is limited.
“As our roads become busier and with technologies such as e-scooters and e-bikes changing the way we travel, fire and rescue services are also facing a changing risk landscape. The rise in lithium-ion battery fires poses new challenges for prevention and response, which means that the right training and equipment needs to be in place.
“Fire and rescue services are only one piece of the puzzle, and we want to see governments play a leading role in driving improvements in road safety at a national level through enhanced legislation, regulation, standards, and education.”
RTC prevention
Jamie Hassall, executive director of the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety (PACTS), added: “We welcome the calls from NFCC to formalise the role of fire and rescue services in preventing road traffic collisions from occurring rather than just focusing on preparing and responding to these incidents – bringing things in line with a Safe System approach. I support the recommendations in the policy position statement and hope to see the government and devolved administrations take them forwards.”
Director of the RAC Foundation, Steve Gooding, said of the call for action to tackle road deaths and injuries: “Fire and rescue services bring invaluable knowledge and experience to road safety, from responding to collisions to supporting the delivery of evidence-based initiatives. Their trusted role in communities makes them key partners in facilitating a safer road environment.”
To download a copy of the NFCC’s Road Safety Position Statement, visit the NFCC website by clicking here. The Home Office data showing the number of road traffic incidents FRS responded to in 2023 and in 2012/13 can be found here.
