The UK’s New Road Safety Strategy: What It Really Means for Car Enthusiasts & Classic Vehicles

At ifndautoparts, we spend a lot of time talking about cars - the parts, the stories, the restorations, the thrill of keeping something on the road that deserves to be there.

So when the Government announces a major update to the UK Road Safety Strategy, it’s not something we can just scroll past.

 

Because whether you’re:

• restoring a historic vehicle

• daily-driving a modern car

• learning to drive

• or still driving strong well into later life

…these changes will eventually touch all of us.

 

We’ve been keeping a close eye on the update shared recently by the HCVA (Historic Commercial Vehicle Association), and we wanted to break it down in plain English, without the politics, panic, or headlines designed to scare people.

 

This blog is here to answer one question:

What does this new Road Safety Strategy really mean for drivers, car enthusiasts, and the wider automotive community and what should you actually pay attention to?

 

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First up: What is the new Road Safety Strategy?

In early January, the Secretary of State for Transport announced revisions to the Government’s Road Safety Strategy, alongside a series of public consultations.

The overall goal is simple (and fair):

Fewer deaths, fewer serious injuries, and safer roads for everyone.

The strategy includes:

• updated road safety priorities

• new data and statistics

• proposals that could affect licensing, penalties, and testing

• consultations where the public can give feedback before anything becomes law

Important: These are not all confirmed changes yet. Several are proposals, which means your opinion still matters.

 

Ref: Image from The UK Govementes Road Safety Strategy document

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Why ifndautoparts cares and why you should too

The HCVA made an important point:

Their remit is about preserving historic vehicles - not drivers.

But as road users, enthusiasts, restorers, traders, and collectors, we’re all part of the same ecosystem.

Changes to:

• licensing

• testing

• penalties

• access to roads

…don’t just affect “bad drivers” - they ripple through the entire automotive world.

And history tells us that when policy is written without enthusiast input, niche communities are often overlooked.

That’s why understanding these proposals  and responding where needed really matters.

 

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The key proposals broken down

Let’s walk through the main areas being discussed, what they actually mean, and why people are talking about them.

 

1. Mandatory eyesight testing for older drivers

What’s being proposed?

A consultation has been launched around mandatory eyesight testing for older drivers.

Read the official Government consultation here: Introducing mandatory eyesight testing for older drivers

 

Why this is even on the table

The Government is responding to data suggesting:

• eyesight deterioration can increase collision risk

• current self-reporting relies heavily on honesty

• many drivers don’t realise their eyesight has declined

This isn’t about age = bad driver.

It’s about untested eyesight, not experience.

 

Why enthusiasts are nervous

For classic and historic vehicle owners, this raises valid concerns:

• Will it lead to blanket age-based restrictions later?

• Will it discourage older enthusiasts from staying active in the community?

• Will it become another hoop to jump through, even for capable drivers?

 

The balanced take

Eyesight checks in principle aren’t unreasonable, many of us already get them done.

But how they’re implemented matters:

• Frequency

• Cost

• Medical exemptions

• Accessibility

This is exactly the kind of consultation where real drivers should respond, not just policymakers.

 

Ref: Image from The UK Govementes Road Safety Strategy document

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2. Minimum learning period for learner drivers

What’s being proposed?

A consultation on introducing a minimum learning period before someone can take their driving test.

Read the official Government consultation here: Introducing a minimum learning period for learner drivers

 

The thinking behind it

The idea is that:

• more time learning = better hazard awareness

• rushed learners may pass tests but lack real-world experience

• a longer learning period could reduce early-career crashes

 

How this affects the wider car world

At first glance, this feels like a “new driver” issue,  but it goes deeper.

Longer learning periods could:

• increase demand for affordable, reliable used cars

• slow entry into car ownership

• change how young people engage with car culture

For enthusiasts, it raises a bigger question:

How do we keep young people excited about cars if access becomes harder, slower, or more expensive?

That’s something the industry not just the Government needs to think about.

 

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3. Changes to penalties for motoring offences

What’s being proposed?

A consultation on updated penalties for certain motoring offences.

Read the official Government consultation here: Proposed changes to penalties for motoring offences

 

Why this matters

Penalties don’t just affect reckless drivers, they affect:

• everyday motorists

• classic car owners unfamiliar with newer rules

• drivers using older vehicles with different characteristics

 

Questions enthusiasts are already asking:

• Will penalties scale fairly?

• Will older vehicles be judged by modern standards?

• How will intent vs error be assessed?

These details matter  and they’re often where communities get caught out.

 

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The Road Safety Strategy document itself (worth a skim)

If you like data, charts, and context, the full strategy is here:

View the full Road Safety Strategy (PDF): UK Road Safety Strategy document

 

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What about historic and classic vehicles?

Here’s the reassuring bit.

The HCVA has made it clear that:

• their focus remains on preserving historic vehicles

• there is currently no direct threat outlined to historic vehicle use

That said…

Policy evolves.

Language changes.

And unintended consequences happen.

 

Which is why:

• enthusiasts staying informed

• responding to consultations

• sharing lived experience

…is how communities protect themselves before changes are locked in.

 

What should enthusiasts actually do right now?

You don’t need to panic. You do need to be aware.

Here’s a simple checklist:

• Read the consultations that affect you
• Share feedback (it genuinely counts)
• Talk to your clubs and communities
• Stay informed via trusted industry bodies
• Keep enjoying your vehicles responsibly

And if you’re buying, selling, restoring, or storing parts, keep the ecosystem alive.

 

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Where ifndautoaprts fits into all this

At ifndautoparts, our mission has always been simple:

Keep parts moving. Keep cars on the road. Keep enthusiasts connected.

As regulations evolve:

• access to the right parts matters more
• maintaining vehicles properly matters more
• knowledge sharing matters more

Whether it’s:

• sourcing original components
• keeping a classic road-safe
• helping parts find new homes

…community-driven platforms become more important, not less.

And yes, it’s still free to list 😉

 

Final thoughts (from one car lover to another)

Road safety matters. So does freedom, passion, and heritage.

The goal shouldn’t be:

“Safer roads at the cost of car culture.”

It should be:

“Safer roads with car culture.”

That only happens when enthusiasts stay involved in the conversation not after decisions are made, but before.

We’ll keep watching this space, translating the jargon, and sharing what actually matters.

And if you spot something we should cover next, you know where to find us.

 

Official references

• Government press announcement: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/thousands-of-lives-to-be-saved-under-bold-new-road-safety-strategy

• Road Safety Strategy (PDF): https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/695e2cff8832ab3a48513809/road-safety-strategy.pdf

• Eyesight testing consultation: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/introducing-mandatory-eyesight-testing-for-older-drivers/introducing-mandatory-eyesight-testing-for-older-drivers

• Learner driver consultation: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/introducing-a-minimum-learning-period-for-learner-drivers/introducing-a-minimum-learning-period-for-learner-drivers-category-b-driving-licence

• Penalties consultation: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/proposed-changes-to-penalties-for-motoring-offences/proposed-changes-to-penalities-for-motoring-offences

 

Article published: 12th January 2026