National Fire Chiefs Council urges government action on road safety

The National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) has called for clearer strategies and expanded statutory duties to address road deaths and injuries across the UK.

As reported by the National Fire Chiefs Council, fire and rescue services (FRSs) responded to over 31,000 road traffic collisions (RTCs) in 2023, representing a 10% increase from the 27,930 incidents recorded in 2012/13.

Despite this, FRSs’ statutory responsibilities are currently limited to preparing for and responding to RTCs.

NFCC is urging the UK Government to consult on expanding these legal duties to reflect the prevention work already being undertaken by FRSs.

These activities include educational campaigns and initiatives aimed at fostering safer road use behaviours.

Calls for a national road safety strategy

NFCC is advocating for a new national road safety strategy for England, following Scotland’s lead, to include evidence-based targets for reducing road deaths and serious injuries.

It also urged the Welsh Government to expedite its ongoing road safety strategy development.

NFCC emphasises that Road Safety Partnerships, which involve collaboration between FRSs, local authorities, emergency services, and other stakeholders, require consistent standards.

The Council is calling for consultations to establish such standards, promoting best practices across the UK.

NFCC Road Safety and Road Rescue Lead Dan Quin 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.”

Graduated driver licensing and young road users

NFCC is also calling for the introduction of graduated driver licensing (GDL) for drivers aged 17 to 24, who are overrepresented in road fatalities.

Data from 2022 shows that a fifth of fatal or serious injury RTCs involved a car driven by a young driver.

International evidence from countries such as Australia and Canada demonstrates that GDL systems are effective in reducing crashes and fatalities among young drivers.

NFCC is pressing for similar measures to be adopted in the UK to safeguard this high-risk group.

Embedding road safety into education

NFCC has recommended that road safety themes be integrated into school curriculums across the UK and Wales.

This measure aims to instil safe driving behaviours from an early age, equipping future generations with knowledge to prevent accidents.

Dan Quin added: “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.”

NFCC calls for expanded statutory duties and national road safety strategy: Summary

The National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) has called for the UK Government to expand statutory duties for fire and rescue services to encompass their prevention activities.

NFCC is also advocating for a national road safety strategy in England with evidence-based targets, similar to Scotland’s approach.

Additional recommendations include the introduction of graduated driver licensing for drivers aged 17 to 24, embedding road safety into school curriculums, and establishing consistent standards for Road Safety Partnerships.

NFCC highlighted the growing challenges posed by evolving travel technologies such as e-scooters and lithium-ion battery fires, urging adequate training and resources for fire and rescue services.