BBK Manifesto 2025: Take actions to improve road safety for pedestrians, motorists, cyclists and horse riders

Road fatalities and injuries have remained persistently high, largely due to fragmented and inadequate policies, BBK says.

We are urging the Government to take immediate action to make roads safer for all users including motorists, cyclists and horse riders.

The latest picture: still too many casualties

Recent provisional figures from the Department for Transport for 2024 paint a concerning picture.

While the number of total casualties dropped by 3% to 128,375, the number of fatalities saw a slight increase of 1%, reaching 1,633. Furthermore, the number of people killed or seriously injured remained almost unchanged at 29,537.

Key figures include:

• Cyclist fatalities fell by 2%, to 85
• Pedestrian deaths rose by 2%, to 413

These numbers highlight a persistent problem, in that vulnerable road users remain at unacceptable risk. Whilst some areas of road safety have improved, the protection of cyclists, pedestrians, and especially horse riders, continues to be inadequate.

Horse riders: Facing danger on the roads

Equestrian road incidents remain alarmingly common. In 2024, The British Horse Society reported 3,118 road incidents involving horses, resulting in 58 equine deaths, 97 injured horses, and 80 injured people. Most of these occurred because vehicles passed too closely or too quickly.

Despite the introduction of updated Highway Code guidelines in 2022, requiring drivers to pass horses at a maximum of 10 mph while allowing a two-metre buffer, education and enforcement remain insufficient. This leaves horse riders, who are already among the most vulnerable road users, exposed to unnecessary danger.

Why action is long overdue

For those in vehicles, collisions are often not fatal. But for cyclists, pedestrians and horse riders the consequences can be devastating. Merely issuing guidance is not enough to protect these groups. Without supportive infrastructure, strong enforcement and public awareness, vulnerable users remain exposed.

What the Government must do

Road safety requires a coordinated and comprehensive approach. We call on policymakers to take the following actions to protect all road users:

• Expand 20 mph zones: Introduce more 20 mph speed limits in areas with high foot and cycle traffic, particularly near schools, in villages and within urban centres. Slower speeds can make all the difference when it comes to saving lives.
• Prioritise infrastructure for vulnerable road users: Invest in dedicated cycle lanes, safer pedestrian crossings, and clearer road markings to ensure that cyclists, pedestrians, and horse riders have safer routes.
• Improve education and enforcement: Provide more resources for enforcement so police can uphold safe passing distances and speed limits consistently.
• Boost public awareness: Increase national campaigns to raise awareness of the importance of sharing the road safely with all users, particularly those who are most vulnerable.

Call for safer roads across Britain

The data shows we are not yet meeting our road safety goals. Vulnerable road users continue to be put at risk. Stronger leadership, strategic investment and legislative commitment are all essential. Everyone is entitled to safe passage on our roads. A national approach that acknowledges risk, embraces responsibility and puts protective measures in place is long overdue.

This blog is part of our 2025/26 Manifesto for Injured People. At Bolt Burdon Kemp, we support injured people not only by winning their cases but by driving change. Guided by our clients’ experiences and partnerships with charities across the UK, we are raising awareness of the change we need to see to better support injured people. We will continue working with politicians from all parties to ensure injured people’s needs are not overlooked in Westminster or beyond. You can read our full manifesto here.