News archive

18 February 2025 00:01

Private e-scooters likely to be behind surge in children caught riding or driving without insurance, warns road safety charity

* New data analysed by IAM RoadSmart shows that within the past four years there has been a 2100% rise in the number of children aged 13-16 penalised
* Uninsured driving and riding among legal age young motorists continues to increase, with the cost of insurance likely to blame despite falling premiums

Nearly 800 children have been caught driving or riding without insurance in the past

30 January 2025 11:38

Road safety charity introduces two new circuits and funded places for young people to its 2025 Skills Day season

IAM RoadSmart aims to make safer driving and riding accessible for all by adding Knockhill and Bicester to the events calendar, as well as providing places for young people funded by the ‘Big Give’ campaign.
Circuit training by the UK’s leading road safety charity will be coming to two new venues this year - Knockhill Racing Circuit in Fife and Bicester Heritage Centre in Oxfordshire.

23 January 2025 00:01

One in two motorists pulled over on suspicion of drug-driving fail roadside drug tests as number of fatalities rises

One in two motorists pulled over on suspicion of drug-driving fail roadside drug tests as number of fatalities rises
The number of deceased drivers with ‘impairment drugs’ present has increased by over 70% from 2014 to 2022, leading to concerns from road safety organisation that drug users continue to get behind the wheel despite the dangers
One in two motorists pulled over on suspicion of d

14 January 2025 09:29

Former police officer who has dedicated 40 years to road safety awarded an MBE for services to motorcycle road safety

A motorcyclist and former police officer from Gloucester has been named on the King’s New Year’s Honours list for his outstanding contributions to road safety.
Simon Ross, 60, has spent 40 years volunteering for road safety charities before joining IAM RoadSmart, where he was Chief Observer of both Gloucestershire Groups before becoming an Examiner, coaching people to pass their Advanced Rider

19 December 2024 00:01

Festive fail? Just one in five would buy a personalised number plate as a Christmas present

Research reveals the most spent on a private plate this year was £80K for L1 BYA



Tens of thousands of pounds have already been spent on personalised number plates this year – but a new survey reveals that just 19% would buy one as a Christmas present for their loved ones.


According to the DVLA, the most spent on a private plate this

10 December 2024 00:01

Motorists perform risky manoeuvres and divert to dangerous rural roads to avoid motorway traffic jams

Nearly one third of those surveyed admitted to performing a U-turn and more than half divert to country lanes
More than half of motorists are diverting from motorways to potentially less safe rural roads to avoid traffic jams and congestion, according to new research [i].
IAM RoadSmart, Britain’s leading road safety charity, found that over the last twelve months, 51% of drivers have divert

6 December 2024 00:01

Road Safety charity celebrates achieving ‘Investing in Volunteers’ status

IAM RoadSmart announces its first Investing in Volunteers award



Britain’s leading road safety charity IAM RoadSmart has been awarded the prestigious Investing in Volunteers award.


The charity, which has around 5,000 volunteers across the country that help to deliver its driver and rider courses, received the accolade in recognition of volunteer management. <

7 November 2024 11:17

IAM RoadSmart welcomes Carlota Da Veiga Pestana as new Business Development & Operations Director

New position to oversee commercial and operations transformation


The UK’s leading independent road safety charity IAM RoadSmart is delighted to announce the appointment of Carlota Da Veiga Pestana to the position of Business Development and Operations Director, completing its Senior Leadership Team.
Carlota will join us from Smart Cit

7 November 2024 00:01

IAM RoadSmart launches in-vehicle technology content for drivers and fleet operators

PRESS RELEASE – Embargoed until 0001, Thursday 7th November 2024


Drivers and fleet operators will benefit from access to detailed content on driving assistance features Course was developed in partnership with the Hi-Drive project and User Education Campaign led by FIA Region I and implemented by 11 Mobility Clubs in Europe

New advanced driver assistance systems (ADA

30 October 2024 14:44

Autumn Budget 2024 – IAM RoadSmart reaction

IAM RoadSmart Reacts to Autumn Budget 2024: Highlights Fuel Duty Freeze

Announcements:

Fuel duty (frozen)

IAM RoadSmart Policy and Public Affairs Manager William Porter said: “We welcome the Chancellor’s decision to maintain the fuel duty cut, at least for now. Motorists have endured a torrid few years of high prices at the pumps and this decision will give them a much

24 October 2024 00:01

IAM RoadSmart urges the Chancellor to take radical steps to save lives on the roads and boost the public purse in Autumn budget

The UK’s leading road safety charity, IAM RoadSmart, is calling on the Chancellor to take steps to both saves lives and reduce the impact of road traffic collisions in her Autumn Budget. By incentivising the take-up of additional road safety courses through the tax system, it will also help save motorists money as the UK emerges from a cost-of-living crisis.
With the cost of insurance hitting r

17 October 2024 09:43

Growing concern over road rage – with Gen Z and Millennials the angriest drivers

New research[i]reveals that Gen Z and Millennials are responsible for beeping their horn the most

More than half (63%) of motorists aged 17-34 have sounded their horn to express anger at the behaviour of another road user in the past year, adding to concern about increasingly aggressive drivers.
Of the 2,000 people surveyed by IAM RoadSmart, the UK’s largest independent road safety chari