Transport Insights

National Highways has effectively confirmed that it will halve the budget of its Driving for Better business campaign, which aims to reduce work‑related road risk.

Fleet News has reported that:

Fleet News understands that details around the future funding of the road safety programme are included in a draft business plan submitted by National Highways in response to the Government’s draft Road Investment Strategy (RIS).

Sources suggest its annual budget will be halved from around £750,000 to £375,000 for the next financial year (2026/27).

It notes that:

Asked about the future of the Driving for Better Business campaign by Fleet News, National Highways wouldn’t be drawn on specifics, but said it remained “committed” to the programme.

A National Highways spokesperson added: “National Highways funding for this programme continues, but we are reviewing as part of developing our plans for the next ‘road period’.

“As with all our work, we regularly review to ensure we deliver the best value for taxpayer.”

The non-denial, the use of the word “committed”, and the reference to “the best value for taxpayer” (sic) all provide a strong indication that the story is true.

The story comes ahead of the publication of the third Road Investment Strategy (RIS), covering 2026-31, with National Highways’ draft strategic business plan being supplied in secret to the Department for Transport following the publication of the draft RIS last year.

In August, regulator the Office of Rail and Road published Expectations of National Highways’ draft Strategic Business Plan, setting out what the document should look like.

The story also follows my revelation that transport secretary Heidi Alexander watered down National Highways’ plan to reduce deaths and serious injuries on its network during the current financial year.

Fleet News also noted that the cut in funding for Driving for Better Business comes weeks after it was cited in the Government’s new road safety strategy as a scheme that would inform a “National Work-Related Road Safety Charter”.

Of course, a charter costs next to nothing, as does saying “road safety is our top priority”.