The latest Traffic Safety Roads report (May 2026) from The Graham Feest Consultancy is now available to explore in full using the document slider below.

 

Key Items of Interest

All Four Nations Now Have a Road Safety Strategy

Wales has published its Road Safety Partnership Plan 2026 to 2040 (Source: GOV.Wales), built on Vision Zero principles and the Safe System approach. With equivalent frameworks already in place in Scotland, Northern Ireland and England, all four nations now have a formal direction for reducing road casualties.

For ADIs, this signals that road safety policy will increasingly shape how driving is taught and discussed. Understanding the Safe System approach is becoming more relevant to the profession.

Over 37,000 Drivers Lost Licences Over Eyesight Failures

Freedom of Information data reveals that more than 37,000 drivers have had their licences revoked since 2022 for failing to meet the legal eyesight standard, with around 8,000 cases per year. While older age groups account for the highest numbers, more than 6,500 drivers under 55 were also affected.

For instructors working with older or accompanied drivers, this is a timely reminder that eyesight checks are not a formality. Police can conduct roadside tests and notify the DVLA directly where concerns exist.

Tyre Safety Laws May Not Be Enough

A Halfords-commissioned study by Cardiff University found that tyres worn to the legal minimum of 1.6mm can add 27 metres to stopping distances at 70mph — around six car lengths.

Tyre-related deaths and serious injuries rose from 147 in 2022 to 172 in 2024, and experts now recommend replacing tyres at 3mm rather than waiting for the legal limit.

This is a valuable conversation to have with pupils. Tyre checks feature in the driving test, but the real-world consequences of worn tyres are frequently underestimated.

Pavement Parking Ban Moves Closer for England

The Government has announced plans to allow local authorities in England to enforce against pavement parking through the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill.

London has had a ban since 1974 and Scotland introduced one in 2025, but most of England still relies on individual Traffic Regulation Orders.

This is worth raising during lessons on responsible parking. The legal landscape is changing, and what has previously been tolerated may soon attract a penalty.

Autonomous Robotaxis Are Coming to London

Waymo’s planned rollout of fully autonomous robotaxis in London places the UK at the forefront of large-scale AV deployment in Europe.

Under the UK’s new AV regime, when a vehicle operates in self-driving mode, liability shifts from the occupant to the Authorised Self Driving Entity — typically the manufacturer or fleet operator.

For ADIs, this is an area worth monitoring. As automation grows, the boundaries of driver responsibility will continue to evolve and clients will increasingly raise questions about what self-driving technology means in practice.

Driving Test Cheating Is Rising Sharply

Driving test cheating surged by 47% across England, Scotland and Wales in the 12 months to September 2025, according to DVSA data.

Tactics ranged from hidden Bluetooth devices used during theory exams to over 1,700 impersonation attempts across both theory and practical tests — with just 96 prosecutions recorded.

For ADIs, this is more than a headline. Test fraud puts unqualified drivers on the road and adds further pressure to an already stretched booking system for genuine learners.

The Cultural Contradiction of Speeding

Research in this month’s report highlights a growing contradiction: half of motorists admit to speeding regularly while believing stricter controls are needed. In 2024, 43% exceeded the 30mph limit on urban roads and 44% did so on motorways.

Instructors have a unique opportunity to shape not just technique, but the values that determine how people drive when no one is watching.

Young Driver Licensing Needs to Change

Brake’s Young Driver Safety report (Source: Brake) shows that around 4,740 people are killed or seriously injured each year in crashes involving young drivers, with half being other road users. Some 77% of the public support a stronger licensing system.

Graham Feest, President of the Institute of Master Tutors of Driving, welcomed the focus but cautioned against time-based restrictions without evidence of actual driving experience, arguing that specific interventions — night driving, motorway driving, carrying passengers — should be required before any restriction is lifted.

This debate has direct relevance for ADIs, as graduated licensing reforms will shape how instruction is structured and valued in the years ahead.

Speeding Has Reached a Four-Year High

IAM RoadSmart research reveals a 32% increase in drivers given speeding penalty points between 2022 and 2025, rising from 678,367 to 939,519 SP30 endorsements. Separate research found that 61% of drivers admitted breaking the 30mph limit in the past 12 months.

Whether this reflects more speeding or better detection is debated, but the behaviour is clear. For instructors, normalising genuine respect for speed limits — not just camera avoidance — remains one of the most important attitudinal lessons to embed.

Final Thoughts for ADIs

May’s report is a reminder that the risks on UK roads are not static.

From rising test fraud and inadequate tyre standards to normalised speeding and incoming autonomous vehicles, the environment in which we teach continues to evolve. The role of the ADI in shaping driver behaviour, attitude and responsibility has never been more important.

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