On the 7th January 2026 the government released its long-awaited National Road Safety Strategy with a welcome initiative to reduce work-related road risk and improve safety for all road users.

“The government will pilot a National Work-Related Road Safety Charter for businesses that require people to drive or ride for them. This includes the use of HGVs, Light Goods Vehicles (LGVs), cars, motorcycles, e-cycles and cycles.”

This could have massive implications for any employer with staff who drive for work, and health and safety professionals will need to be at the forefront to ensure their organisation is up to speed. 

The Strategy also said the Charter will be developed in collaboration with business and industry, and will be informed by existing schemes such as the National Highways Driving for Better Business programme.

Simon will examine what good practice looks like and how industry is likely to react. He’ll also preview some of the content in this year’s Driver Safety Theatre at the Health & Safety Event, created to help employers understand and meet the expected standards.

Simon Turner, Engagement Manager - National Highways Driving for Better Business Programme

Simon has been championing work-related road safety for almost 20 years. For the first ten, Simon was involved in fleet risk management and was also the director responsible for fleet safety in a small business running ten company cars. Since 2015, he has been at the helm of the award-winning and free-to-access Driving for Better Business programme from National Highways.

Simon is also a Trustee and former Chair of the Association for Road Risk Management (ARRM), plays a leading role in ARRM’s Project EDWARD national road safety campaign, is a member of the Road User Behaviour Working Group on the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety, and sits on the judging panel for the Prince Michael International Road Safety Awards.

What Could the Government’s New National Work-Related Road Safety Charter Mean for You?