An independent impact study published to mark The Road Safety Trust’s 10th anniversary has outlined how the charity’s funding has helped build the evidence base for safer roads across the UK. The report by Systra outlines how Government is drawing on the Trust’s evidence base when shaping national road safety policy.

It also demonstrates how over £13m invested across more than 120 projects over the past decade has directly influenced policing standards, vehicle regulation, and emergency response guidance.

The DfT’s newly published Road Safety Strategy directly incorporates a number of Trust-funded research and interventions. It pledges support to roll out Project PRIME’s motorcycle safety markings nationwide and highlights the preventative power of the Data Sustains Life project.

Over the past 10 years, the report finds that the Trust has built a large, practical evidence base by funding projects that span many aspects of road safety – from engineering new road layouts and testing safety equipment, to educating young drivers and improving police enforcement.

This research and knowledge is designed to be shared with road safety professionals to be used and deployed in practice. The report found that 17 of the Trust-funded projects it evaluated have already produced ready-to-use manuals, systems, and procedures that frontline organisations can implement immediately.

Another central finding of Systra’s evaluation is the role of the Trust as a catalyst in an important area of public health, frequently backing research and interventions that go on to improve road safety and save lives.

Key findings from the report include:

• Driving actionable change: 53 of the 74 completed projects assessed showed clear evidence of current or future positive impacts on road safety
• Unlocking potential: 98% of surveyed grantees (40 out of 41) stated their work was unlikely to have proceeded without the Trust’s financial support.
• Targeting unexplored areas: The evaluation found the Trust frequently funds projects that focus on critical safety issues that lack clear ownership by other organisations.

Ruth Purdie OBE, chief executive of The Road Safety Trust, said:

“At the heart of our work is a clear vision: zero deaths and serious injuries on UK roads. Over the past decade, our funding has identified critical evidence gaps, supported groundbreaking research, and equipped those working across the road safety system with the practical tools to prevent harm and save lives.

“We are incredibly grateful to the researchers, practitioners, charities, public bodies and road safety professionals whose expertise has underpinned the projects highlighted in this report. Their commitment has helped build an evidence base that now informs national policy and improves road safety practice across the UK and beyond.”

(Picture: Road Safety Trust)