40 Years of Saving Lives Through Evidence, Innovation and Influence
From pioneering research and vehicle safety to safer roads and a vision of zero harm, the Road Safety Foundation has spent four decades helping to save lives, prevent serious injuries and make journeys safer for everyone.
Foreword
Dr Suzy Charman
Executive Director, Road Safety Foundation
For 40 years, the Road Safety Foundation has been helping to save lives and prevent serious injuries on Britain's roads through evidence, innovation and influence.
This publication highlights just a small selection of the Foundation's achievements over four decades. From pioneering research and shaping legislation to improving vehicle safety, transforming the way we assess roads, and championing investment in safer infrastructure, the Foundation has consistently sought practical ways to make journeys safer for everyone.
What stands out is the diversity of this work and the lasting impact it has had, not only in the UK but increasingly around the world. As we celebrate this milestone, we can be proud of the role the Foundation has played in advancing road safety.
Yet the journey continues. Too many people are still killed or seriously injured on our roads, and significant challenges remain. At the same time, there are tremendous opportunities to achieve further reductions through safe roads, safe vehicles, safe speeds, safe road use and improved post-crash response. Building on 40 years of impact, we look forward to bringing the same commitment to evidence, innovation and influence as we work towards a future with fewer deaths and serious injuries on our roads.
Building a Road Safety Research Base
Inspired by the AAA Foundation in the United States, the Foundation was established in 1986 to build a trusted evidence base for road safety, connecting government, researchers and practitioners. Before the millennium, it published twenty influential reports tackling issues from pedestrian safety and red light running to young and older drivers, many of which remain relevant today.
Influencing the New Drivers Act
The Foundation’s research found that young drivers often had the skills to drive safely but were influenced by peer attitudes towards risky behaviour. It proposed that new drivers should “earn” the standard 12-point penalty threshold, with licences revoked at six points during their first two years. The proposal became the Road Traffic (New Drivers) Act 1995, coming into force in June 1997.
Exposing Hidden Road Safety Inequalities
In 1990, the Foundation published pioneering research on young pedestrian collisions, highlighting socio-economic and ethnic inequalities in road risk. Far ahead of its time, the report reflected many of the principles that now underpin the Safe System, recognising that pedestrian injury risk arises from the interaction between the road environment, traffic exposure and human behaviour, rather than individual fault alone. It called for data-led interventions including traffic calming and safer street design, alongside targeted measures to reduce the disproportionate risks faced by vulnerable communities.
Evaluating the Future of Emergency Response
In 1991, the Foundation carried out one of the earliest detailed evaluations of the Kent Helicopter Ambulance Service, examining response times, patient outcomes, performance and value for money. The study helped build the evidence base for advanced pre-hospital trauma care. Today, air ambulances are a key part of emergency response, reflecting the Foundation’s long history of evaluating life-saving innovations.
Helping Launch the European New Car Assessment Programme (EuroNCAP)
In the late 1990s, the Foundation helped fund and support the introduction of Euro NCAP despite resistance from motor manufacturers, promoting its crash-test results through the AA magazine. Euro NCAP went on to transform vehicle safety standards and influence safer car design worldwide, with its work now extending globally through Global NCAP.
Revealing the Risks Hidden in Road Design
In the late 1990s and early 2000s, the Foundation extended its focus from vehicle safety to road safety, helping establish the European Road Assessment Programme (EuroRAP) with partners in the UK, Sweden and the Netherlands. Through annual Crash Risk Mapping, it helped demonstrate how safer road design can reduce deaths and serious injuries.
Bringing Star Ratings to Britain’s Strategic Roads and Beyond
In 2010, the Foundation piloted Star Ratings on England’s Strategic Road Network, helping establish them as a performance target for the first Road Investment Strategy. Through its role in creating EuroRAP, which later established iRAP, the Foundation contributed to a global programme now used across 2.4 million km of roads in 140 countries, influencing major road safety investment worldwide.
Improving Safety for Older Drivers
The Foundation first explored motoring and older drivers in 1988, followed by several further studies. In 2014, the Older Drivers Task Force brought together industry, government and experts to support safe mobility for an ageing population. Its recommendations continue to influence policy, including proposals for mandatory eyesight testing at licence renewal.
Creating the Safer Roads Fund
In 2016, the Foundation’s Crash Risk Mapping identified some of England’s highest-risk roads, helping provide the evidence base for the Safer Roads Fund. Since then, £200 million has been invested in improvements across more than 100 routes, with the programme expected to prevent thousands of deaths and serious injuries while delivering substantial long-term public benefit.
The Proactive Revolution
The Foundation has long championed proactive road safety, helping authorities identify risks before crashes occur. Through the development and promotion of iRAP route reviews, it supported a shift towards preventative risk management. Today, with trained practitioners and funding increasingly recognising iRAP-based evidence, this approach is firmly embedded in road safety practice.
Explore our archive
Four decades of research have helped shape the way road safety is understood and improved today. Explore a selection of reports from the Foundation’s archive to discover the research, ideas and evidence that have influenced road safety policy and practice over the past 40 years.
