A report has been published that states an investment of £1.2bn across 520 routes is needed to improve the UK’s road safety record.

According to an article in New Civil Engineer, the report highlights the need for significant upgrades on both local and major roads.

Looking Back – Moving Forward is a report published by the Road Safety Foundation and Ageas Car Insurance. As well as it highlighting the need for more financial investment, it also adds that the UK has fallen behind other countries in terms of road safety. Countries such as Spain, Norway and Switzerland have overtaken the UK in regards to improving the safety of their roads.

Lord Whitty of Camberwell, chairman of the Road Safety Foundation, has alluded that safety advancements for vehicles have papered over the cracks when it comes to improving the condition of roads in the UK recently.

“British progress has depended largely on rising European vehicle standards”, said Lord Whitty in the foreword of the report.

“This report identifies where quick, high returns lie for a £620M investment portfolio on local ‘A’ roads in England (including the Major Roads Network), with similar packages available in Scotland, Wales and on the Strategic Road Network in England.”

“Levelling infrastructure safety should now be a key transport component in the post-Covid recovery.”