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Safety

England’s motorways and major A-roads are some of the safest in the world, but our ambition remains that no one should be harmed while travelling or working on our roads.

Everything that we do in managing and improving safety on our network is working towards our Road to Zero Harm ambition.

In the financial year 2025-26, we'll be using Designated Funds to deliver safety enhancements on the strategic road network to reduce the number of people killed and seriously injured on our roads.  We will also use funding to explore ways to improve safety.

We're not currently taking on funding applications from external partners, but we're committed to updating this page with any updates in the future. 

Success stories

In Roads Period 2 (2020-2025), we delivered over 570 safety schemes, focused on delivering the greatest possible impact for road users.

This included improving safety on targeted roads that need it most, such as A-roads with higher collision rates. These projects included changes to signage, road markings, pedestrian crossing improvements and speed management enhancements, which were subject to formal statutory process.

Click through the case study buttons below to read more about the safety projects that we’ve delivered. 

Reducing collisions on the A550

Workers on the A550 project;

Reducing collisions on the A550

Background

Safety is and always will be our number one priority, and that is why our ambition remains that no-one should be harmed while travelling or working on our roads.

Our aim with this scheme was to improve road safety for all road users by installing average speed cameras, which we anticipate will reduce the frequency and severity of collisions.

The initiative

In December 2024, working in partnership with Cheshire Police, we installed average speed cameras. The cameras encourage drivers to comply with the signed speed limit — bringing safety benefits to all road users. It is every drivers’ responsibility to comply with the speed limits, which are clearly displayed on our signage.

We have replaced existing rigid lighting columns with safer ones, made from materials which fold or collapse upon impact, minimising the risk of harm to drivers and any passengers within a vehicle.

We have installed new red-hatched areas at three junctions on the A550 to help reduce the potential for collisions at these locations. The hatched areas inform drivers that they must not enter the junction unless the exit road is clear and there is enough space for their vehicle to clear the area without stopping.

We have also installed vehicle-activated signs, which provide advanced notice to drivers travelling on the A550 that there is a vehicle at the junction for Shotwick Lane waiting to pull out.

Workers on the A550 project

Pictured alongside the northbound A550 at the busy Two Mills junction with the A540 are (l-r) Councillor Simon Eardley (Cheshire West and Chester Council Saughall and Mollington ward), Karl Farrow (CWAC Highways Area team Leader), National Highways project manager Ian Spence, Chester North and Neston MP Samantha Dixon and Gary Knowles, National Highways' head of scheme delivery (operations North West).

"It’s great to see these important safety improvements completed and to see such investment in important roads in the constituency that will make a real difference for local residents and all who travel through the Chester North and Neston constituency. Thank you to everyone involved in delivering these works and for the opportunity to visit to see them first-hand. This project will undoubtedly have a positive impact on our community."

Chester North and Neston MP Sam Dixon

Safety work on the A417

LED lights on the A417;

Safety work on the A417

Background

In April 2024, we completed improvements on the A417 between Nettleton and Birdlip junction in Gloucestershire ahead of our A417 Missing Link scheme to enhance safety of all road users.

Between 2017-2021, five serious collisions were recorded involving a vehicle crossing the road’s dashed centre line.

The initiative

We replaced the dashed centre line with a continuous double white centre line and installed over 600 LED solar road studs on a 1.3-mile section of the A417 between the junctions with the B4070 and Cowley Lane. 

This change will help discourage overtaking manoeuvres by reinforcing the no overtaking rule as set out in the Highway Code.  

LED solar road studs on both sides of the road will also help to define the layout of the road by highlighting junctions and entry/exit slip roads to all road users.  

 The red and green studs provide additional visibility at junctions, improving visibility to drivers at nighttime, as well as in poor weather conditions.   

Additional benefits 

Helping drivers feel safer: A 2020 survey of drivers suggested that LED road studs may help reduce the likelihood of nighttime accidents and help drivers feel more confident using roads with them installed on.  

Safety considerations for motorcyclists: The studs’ lower profile of less than 4mm will improve the road experience for motorcyclists. 

Environmental considerations: The use of solar road studs significantly reduces environmental impact, as additional street lighting is not required. Furthermore, by harnessing solar energy to power the studs, this helps to minimise the total amount of light pollution at this location, demonstrating our commitment to environmental sustainability. 

LED lights on the A417

The outcome

It’s too early to measure accurately how effective our safety intervention has been. We will continue to monitor this route reviewing the DfT’s annual collision data.

"We want everyone using or working on our roads to make their journeys reliably and safely. We’re pleased to have delivered this small but impactful safety scheme in collaboration with our design and build partners, ahead of the A417 Missing Link scheme."

National Highways Project Manager Sarah Lewis

Reducing collisions on the A40

Speed sign on the A40;

Reducing collisions on the A40

Background

Safety is and always will be our number one priority, and that is why our ambition remains that no-one should be harmed while travelling or working on our roads.

Our aim with this scheme was to improve road safety for all road users by introducing reduced speed limits, which we anticipate will reduce the frequency and severity of collisions.

The initiative

There were several different speed limits along the A40 between Huntley and Boxbush, Gloucestershire, which local residents and road users had expressed safety concerns to us on.  

A safety review, using collision data, showed a high number of collisions involving speed on the 60mph section of the road. 

In 2016 we implemented a temporary speed limit from 60mph to 40mph including new signage and saw a 78% reduction in collisions (between 2014 and 2018).   

In response to this data and local insight, we’ve reduced the speed limit permanently to 40mph along the route to help support road users with safer journeys.  

Speed sign on the A40