The Road Safety Strategy 2026

The UK’s new Road Safety Strategy published in January 2026 launches a clear message: road safety will not improve through aspiration alone. While the headlines have focused on drink-driving limits and mandatory vision tests for older drivers, a quieter but equally consequential part of the plan for fleet operators lies in its enforcement, technology strategy and regulatory ambitions around light goods vehicles (LGVs) — the vans and smaller commercial vehicles that form the backbone of service, delivery, and logistics fleets.

At its core, the strategy’s enforcement theme recognises that unsafe behaviours and poorly maintained vehicles are systemic risk factors and that enforcement should be data-driven and proportional to risk. 

For fleet operators juggling capacity issues, customer expectations, and cost pressures, this enforcement mindset is not just a regulatory hurdle but rather a strategic reality that must be planned for and managed.

Enforcement will become smarter, not just tougher

The strategy emphasises robust enforcement as one of its four core themes, alongside safer infrastructure, technology and supporting road users. The new strategy drives enforcement toward a targeted, intelligence-led model that prioritises risk signals, whether from telematics, ANPR data, or roadside monitoring. 

For fleet operators, this means:

• Your data environment matters — poor telematics use or incomplete records can put you on the enforcement radar
• Remote enforcement technologies (e.g. ANPR-linked targeting, remote tachograph downloads) will catch non-compliance without the need for physical vehicle stops
• Collaboration with other enforcement bodies will widen monitoring beyond the DVSA alone

Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) are highlighted as a driving force in the improvement of road safety with government seeking to collaborate with industry to support innovation whilst maintaining high standards of safety and public trust.

Practically, this drives fleets to invest in data integration and analytics, not just to monitor compliance internally, but to predict where enforcement attention is likely to land and taken action.

LGVs are in focus

LGVs are being treated with a higher level of priority due to persistent failure rates in safety inspections, high rates of serious defects, and unsafe load issues. 

In practice, this enforcement emphasis means:

• Increased roadside interactions for vans and LGVs, similar to existing HGV regimes
• Greater attention to vehicle defects, insecure loads, and overloading as over 50% of LGV encounters already result in enforcement action  
• Sector-specific targeting of high-risk segments (e.g. construction, multi-stop logistics) will see proportionally more enforcement activity

For operators, this demands robust maintenance programmes, documented load security policies and procedures, and fleet-wide training with records being kept.

Enforcement is broader than roadside stops

The strategy places enforcement within a multi-agency network that includes the police, DVSA and Traffic Commissioners with the introduction of a new Roads Policing Programme. The implication for fleets is that compliance is no longer siloed.

Operator licence compliance is tied to real-world performance and enforcement outcomes with the Earned Recognition Scheme enabling operators to assure DVSA about its systems for compliance. 

Key areas such as fraud, unlicensed drivers, and falsified records are now explicit targets in the enforcement strategy with the DVSA playing a key role in identifying and investigating.  

The DVSA will also be adopting specialised technology and tactics to detect non-compliance earlier and more accurately. This includes digital weigh pads for overload detection and robots to inspect undersides of vehicles. 

In addition, there will be consideration given to the suspension of driver licences for those suspected of drink or drug driving offences prior to court appearances or entered guilty pleas.

This breadth of enforcement requires operators to ensure that records are a priority and that compliance is regularly reviewed and constantly adhered to remain ahead of the curve.

The strategic consequences for fleet operators

The implications for fleet operators can be summarised in three core shifts:

Proactive compliance is no longer optional

Operators can no longer assume enforcement is random — data suggests it will increasingly be targeted. Investing in compliance technology and demonstrable control systems isn’t just good governance; it’s essential to avoid enforcement burden.

Documentation is your best evidence

Without audit trails, compliance claims are vulnerable. Operators must treat records, from maintenance logs to driver hours and load checks, as critical evidence in enforcement scenarios that requires the utmost preservation.

Enforcement shapes market position

Fleets that can demonstrate low enforcement exposure and strong compliance history will likely benefit from fewer interventions, less regulatory action, and stronger market positioning.

Conclusion

The UK’s new Road Safety Strategy positions it as a strategic behaviour-shaping mechanism that rewards data, robust systems, and consistent compliance. 

For fleet operators, ensuring compliance is integrated deeply into operational strategy is a necessity. Operators who recognise this early and build their systems and cultures accordingly will be on the best footing to navigate enforcement pressures with confidence rather than reactiveness.