More than 50 organisations and individuals from across the road safety community have written a joint letter to the new transport secretary, Louise Haigh MP, urging the Government to prioritise vehicle safety.
The consensus letter, led by Brake and AXA UK, is a direct request to the Government to adopt the latest vehicle General Safety Regulation updates to the existing GB Type Approval Scheme.
The regulations, which were implemented in full across Europe two years ago, mandate driver assistance features such as intelligent speed assistance, advanced emergency braking and driver-drowsiness-detection systems.
They also cover key measures that improve vehicle crash performance and will significantly improve the protection of women and the elderly in the event of a collision.
It has been estimated that adopting the full package of measures in Britain could prevent more than 1,700 deaths and 15,000 serious injuries over the next 16 years, saving up to £7 billion in health costs.
Ross Moorlock, CEO of Brake, said: “For years, our calls for proven measures to stop road crashes and reduce harm have been ignored. Now, as the new Government is forming, we are hopeful for change.
“We look forward to working with the secretary of state to support the delivery of safer vehicles that will protect drivers and all road users and, ultimately, improve safety on roads across Britain.
“This request, to adopt the vehicle General Safety Regulation by updating already existing legislation, is a straightforward, effective way to save hundreds of lives and many thousands of serious injuries from road crashes.
“The UK played a significant role in the development of the Vehicle General Safety Regulation when it was part of the European Union. Now we are calling for recommendations that we have already made a commitment to. This is simple legislation to pass too – all that is required is a signature!”
Signatories include Road Safety GB, PACTS and The Road Safety Trust.
Meera Naran MBE, road safety campaigner and mother of Dev Naran who was eight years old when he was killed in a road collision on the M6 near Birmingham, said: “Dev was in a stationary car when a lorry collided with it.
“Advanced emergency braking – which is a system that makes a vehicle automatically brake if a person steps out in front of it or a vehicle in front stops suddenly – could have saved Dev’s life.
“It is vital that the Government adopts these measures to prevent more families having to go through what ours has.”
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