During Road Safety Awareness Week, Amanda Martin, Member of Parliament for Portsmouth North, joined Minister for Local Transport Lilian Greenwood to support Labour’s upcoming Road Safety Strategy – the first national plan in over a decade to tackle the rising number of deaths and serious injuries on Britain’s roads.
Across Portsmouth, residents have raised concerns about speeding, dangerous driving, poor enforcement, and pedestrian safety – particularly near schools, residential areas, and busy junctions.
Amanda Martin MP for Portsmouth North said: “I’ve listened, met and brought together so many people in Portsmouth who are calling for action, not excuses. Road safety isn’t just a transport issue, it’s about protecting lives, supporting families, and restoring confidence in our streets. I’m proud to stand with the Minister and support Labour’s plan to make our roads safer and ensure our community sees the benefits.”
Amanda added: “Every year, 1,600 people lose their lives on our roads, and thousands more are seriously injured. We would not accept this in any other area of public life – a tragedy for families and a huge cost of over £2 billion a year to our NHS. Labour’s commitment to restoring order to our roads and protecting all road users is long overdue.”
The Road Safety Strategy is expected to be published soon and will mark a major step forward in Labour’s mission to restore order to Britain’s roads and protect every road user. Some of the following measures are currently being looked at to be included in the Road Safety Strategy, subject to consultation.
- Points on license for not wearing a seatbelt
- Compulsory eye tests for over 70s, and explore ways to test for other things like dementia
- Introducing a minimum learning period for learner drivers
- Tackling headlight glare
- Review and lower the drink drive limit
- Tougher penalties for uninsured drivers
- Saliva drug tests
- Ghost plates
