Road Safety Framework 2030 - Operational Partnership Group - 01 September 2025 - Meeting Minutes

Members

  • George Henry (GH) (Chair) Transport Scotland Road Policy and Safety
  • Scott McCarren (SM) Police Scotland
  • Kieren Green (KG) Transport Scotland Road Safety Policy
  • Debbie Nicol (DN) Transport Scotland Road Safety Scotland
  • Daniel Bulawa (DB) Transport Scotland Active Travel
  • Helene Mauchlen (HM) British Horse Society
  • Ryan Gilbert (RG) Transport Scotland Comms
  • Steven Feeney (SF) Transport Scotland Road Safety Policy
  • Stevie Reid (SR) Police Scotland
  • Caitlin Taylor (CT) RoSPA
  • Chris Thompson (CT) Living Streets Scotland
  • Catherine Heeney (CH) Transport Scotland Research
  • Andrew Paterson (AP) Transport Scotland Statistician
  • Keith Irving (KI) Cycling Scotland
  • James McCrum (JM) Transport Scotland Statistician
  • Tommy Keay (TK) Scottish Fire and Rescue Service
  • Angela McGibbon (AM) SCOTS
  • Stewart Mackie (SM) IAM RoadSmart
  • Andrew Barclay (AB) Police Scotland
  • Stephen Bridgman (SB) Public Health Scotland
  • Michelle Van der stighelen (MV) Transport Scotland Safety Camera Programme
  • Stuart Wilson (SW) Transport Scotland Safety and Development

Secretariat

  • Hannah Green (HG) Transport Scotland Road Safety Policy

Apologies

  • Michael McDonnell (MM) Transport Scotland Road Safety Scotland
  • Fred O’Hara (FO’H) Transport Scotland Road Policy
  • Alan Martin (AM) Transport Scotland Sustainable & Active Travel
  • Timothy Hooper (TH) Scottish Trauma Network
  • Caroline Brearley (CB) Scottish Ambulance Service
  • Fay McNicol (FM) Scottish Ambulance Service
  • Lynne Mason (LM) Road Haulage Association
  • Nina Day (ND) Health and Safety Executive
  • Alistair Ross (AR) Association of British Insurers

Welcome and Introductions

The Chair welcomed the OPG members to the in-person meeting and proceeded with a round table introduction.

Previous Minutes and Actions

The minutes of the previous meeting on 18 June 2025 were agreed as an accurate record of discussion and have been published on the Transport Scotland website. Most actions from the previous meeting were complete, however the outstanding asks are;

Road Safety Policy to share Police Scotland memorandum of understanding with Public Health Scotland

Owner: Road Safety Policy

Status: Ongoing

Update: This will be provided in due course.

To set a meeting to discuss exemptions and Living Streets findings.

Owner: Fred O’Hara / Chris Thompson

Status: Ongoing

Update: Living Streets are compiling examples of parking exemptions from across Scotland and will share with Transport Scotland in due course.

All members to consider any barriers, gaps or opportunities to explore in terms of their own organisations road safety delivery and provide an update to TS Road Safety Policy.

Owner: All

Status: Ongoing

Update: All members as once again asked to consider this action and provide Road Safety Policy with any updates.

Once the scope of the mid-term review is agreed Road Safety Policy will share the details of the brief and proposed timings with members.

Owner: Road Safety Policy

Status: Ongoing

Update: Item will be covered in the agenda.

Andrew Paterson to share motorcycle and counterpart analysis with Stephen Bridgman.

Owner: Andrew Paterson

Status: Complete

Update: Information was shared prior to the meeting.

Andrew Paterson to discuss cycling data with Keith Irving.

Owner: Andrew Paterson

Status: Ongoing

Update: A meeting is set for week commencing 8 September.

Police Scotland to begin providing fatality data aligned with both the calendar and fiscal year at future OPG meetings.

Owner: Andy Barclay

Status: Closed

Update: Item will be covered in the agenda.

Police Scotland to provide an outline on the HMICS recommendations and the corresponding actions being taken to address the recommendations at the next meeting.

Owner: Andy Barclay

Status: Closed

Update: Item will be covered in the agenda.

RSS to link with PHS in relation to child car seat information and education provided to midwives and health visitors.

Owner: Road Safety Scotland

Status: Ongoing

Update: This action remains ongoing while identifying the appropriate contact within PHS. Caroline to contact Stephen B who will assist with this action.

Update from Governance Groups

Mid-term Review

An update on the mid-term review was provided, noting that the procurement of a consultant to lead on this work has now concluded.

The mid-term review brief is due to be reviewed and approved by the Strategic Partnership Board, at which time this will be circulated to OPG members for comment.

Action: Secretariat to circulate mid-term brief to members once agreed by Strategic Partnership Board.

Local Partnership Forums / Key Priority Groups

The Chair advised that the LPFs last met in June 2025 and will meet again in November. An update on each of the Key Priority Groups was also provided, noting the following;

Age Group:

Last met on the 1st July with next meeting scheduled for Thursday 18th September.

Motorcycle Focus Group:

Last met on 27th August, the meeting centred around year to date casualty statistics, enforcement and campaigns. The group also agreed how to progress the recommendations outlined in the In-Depth Road Traffic Fatalities Report 2020–2024 going forward. The proposed date of the next meeting is 11th November.

Vulnerable Road User Group:

Last met on 1st May with next meeting scheduled for 30th September.

Driver Behaviour & Enforcement Group:

Last met on the 6th August, during the meeting members provided organisation specific updates based on the recommendations assigned to them from the In-Depth Fatalities Report. Furthermore a presentation was presented to members by Agilysis on ‘Enforcement as a Behaviour Change Tool’. The group is scheduled to meet again in November 2025.

Action: Road Safety Policy to share the Enforcement as a Behaviour Change Tool presentation with OPG members.

Action: Road Safety Policy to meet with Public Health Scotland to discuss health representatives on each of the various governance groups.

Knowledge, Data and Training

2025 – Police Management Information Data

An update was provided by Police Scotland on the latest management information data for 2025 (calendar and fiscal year), noting that Police Scotland continues to monitor the analytical data.

Police Scotland noted changes to their internal meeting structure with meetings being more performance focused and action centred.

Key points raised:

Monthly tactical meetings will take place.

The Tactical Options Working Group will now be known as the National Road Safety Partnership Meeting, which is an external multi-agency partnership meeting.

The internal Road Safety Governance Board is now known as the Road Safety Governance and Performance Board.

Action: Stephen Bridgman to contact Andrew Barclay regarding a PHS representative joining the National Road Safety Partnership.

Speed Indicator Findings

Andrew Paterson delivered a presentation on the Speed Indicator Findings.

During the presentation the following was highlighted;

Speed Compliance by Road Type (Jan–Jun 2025)

  • 20 mph zones:

Highest non-compliance: Cars/small vans (61%), Motorcycles (58%).

Lowest: Buses (31%).

  • 30 mph zones:

Highest: Cars/small vans (43%), Rigid HGVs (40%).

Lowest: Buses (29%).

  • 60 mph zones (varied limits by vehicle type):

Highest: Articulated HGVs (65%), Rigid HGVs (29%).

Lowest: Cars/small vans (6%).

  • 70 mph (non-motorway):

Highest: Articulated HGVs (77%), Motorcycles (36%).

Lowest: Cars/small vans (17%).

  • Motorways:

Highest: Buses (34%), Motorcycles & Car/trailer (30%).

Lowest: Articulated HGVs (3%).

 Quarterly Speed Compliance Trends

  • 20 mph compliance dropped significantly between Oct 24 and Jan 2025 (39%) but rebounded by Apr 2025 (60%).
  • 30 mph compliance remained relatively stable (40–45%).
  • 60 mph & 70 mph compliance for cars showed minor fluctuations.

Members noted the 20mph speed compliance figure and commented that this may be due to the number of new 20mph locations now added but will continue to monitor compliance across all sites.

Action: Secretariat to share the Speed Indicator Findings presentation with members.

Delivery, Monitoring and Communications

2025 – 2026 Deliverables

The Annual Progress Report 2024/25 and Delivery Plan 2025/26 has now been published on the Transport Scotland website.

Members provided an update on all deliverables:

Road Safety Policy

  • Deliverable: 21/01 – National speed management review advice is being prepared for Ministerial consideration. RSP are looking into some of the consultation feedback i.e. journey time aspect.
  • Deliverable: 21/22 – 20mph Implementation – Grant Offer letters have been issued to the majority of local authorities. Those where letters haven’t yet been issued, work is continuing to gain a programme for delivery by the local authority.
  • Deliverable: 22/10 – The trial deployment of Distracted Driver technology is ongoing.
  • Deliverable: 22/35 – There are speed indicator sites which are within areas of deprivation and analytical work will be undertaken in due course.
  • Deliverable: 24/07 – Framework website work is ongoing.
  • Deliverable: 24/16 – The Safe System manual is going through the final clearance process. It will be shared with members for comment and review in due course.
  • Deliverable: 24/48 & 25/01: RSIF Grant Offer letters will begin to be issued as of today. Road Safety Framework Fund decision letters have been issued and grant offer letters are being drafted in partnership with project managers before being issued.
  • Deliverable: 25/06 – All recommendations are being taken forward through the Key Priority Groups.

KI asked if there was any update on making non-seatbelt wearing an endorsable offence and if timings of this would match the rollout of new technology.

The Chair advised that he has regular meetings with the Department for Transport and this will be discussed with them.

Action: Should any members wish for additional Safe System training, they should inform Secretariat as soon as possible.

Action: Road Safety Policy and Police Scotland to consider issuing draft versions of fatality research to Key Priority Groups ahead of reports being finalised.

Trunk Road Casualty Reduction Team

  • Deliverable: 23/15 – Approximately half way through the delivery, aiming to have at minimum temporary orders in place for all locations before end of March 2026. The sign only approach is seeing good levels of speed compliance.
  • Deliverable: 24/45 – PRIMES toolkit has been published and is being adopted by others worldwide.
  • Deliverable: 24/47 – The TRCRT programme sees over £12m being invested in road safety engineering. The delivery of the A9 short-term measures has been completed.

Scottish Safety Camera Programme

  • Deliverable: 25/22 – Procurement is underway. Working alongside a new supplier who is developing a new camera which is being trialled on the A9.

Chair advised we are working towards automatic enforcement of new laws, and will ensure the group is kept up to date. Police Scotland are reviewing their back office capabilities ahead of these upcoming changes.

Active Travel

The verbal update given on deliverables: 25/24, 25/25, 25/26, 25/27 and 25/31 was contained within the 2025/26 Deliverables paper.

DB advised of 7 Regional Transport Partnerships which support the delivery of active and sustainable transport projects. These partnerships comprise of local authorities and report to a board of councillors.

Action: Active Travel will provide Public Health Scotland with details of the members of the seven Regional Transport Partnerships, including their connections to the Road Safety Local Partnership Forums, with a view to ensuring appropriate health representation.

Road Safety Scotland

  • Deliverable: 21/14 – Marketing have set a meeting for the 10th September to shape a brief for the project.
  • Deliverable: 25/14 – Budget has now been approved therefore activity will continue. Distribution of the 2025/26 new road safety within curriculum for excellence booklet.
  • Deliverable: 25/15 – Meeting set for 16th September which will review the campaign calendar for the year as the budget has now been approved.

Action: RSS to share the curriculum for excellence booklet with British Horse Society.

Police Scotland

  • Deliverable: 21/04 – Work remains ongoing and the project lead is linked in well with all appropriate organisations.
  • Deliverable: 24/17 – Discussions are ongoing to review the safety camera programme.
  • Deliverable: 24/19 – Speeding forms part of the performance focus of the National Road Safety Partnership.
  • Deliverable: 24/21 – Work remains ongoing and still progressing the public facing portal.
  • Deliverable: 25/07 – Worked to streamline the campaign calendar year and this remains ongoing and on track.

It was confirmed that COPFS sit on both the Road Traffic Diversionary Courses group and the Driver Behaviour & Enforcement group and members agreed that their representation at OPG level would also be welcomed.

Action: Secretariat to extend OPG invite to COPFS.

Scottish Fire and Rescue Service

  • Deliverable: 24/39 – Pilot currently running in the North.
  • Deliverable: 25/19 – Ongoing educational work, Andrew P has also been providing presentations on the data which has assisted internal SFRS colleagues.
  • Deliverable: 25/20 – Ongoing voluntary internal project.
  • Deliverable: 25/21 – Finding VR being one of the most effective ways of getting the road safety messaging across.

Streetfeet – Educating children within Dumfries and Galloway, road safety champions have been increasing the use of Ziggy resources.

ScORSA

Previous Quarter:

  • Driver Health Event went very well and the teachings are on the website with event feedback being very positive.
  • New resources released – Automated vehicle resources and 2 case studies.
  • Drafting a best practice guide on managing the risk of alcohol and drugs in the workplace when driving for work which is due to be released in October.
  • Local Authorities manage road risk internally – survey responses have been analysed with more in-depth interviews are ongoing, research should be released October.
  • Comms – ScORSA was promoted in the iosh magazine which then seen a considerable increase in the number of subscribers.
  • With the start of the new project year (1st September) all of last years targets were achieved.

Upcoming Quarter:

  • September – Drowsy Driving webinar, which is specific to the healthcare sector and will also be releasing a healthcare toolkit.
  • October – Campaign topic is AI with webinar.
  • November - Campaign topic will be winter driving with webinar focused on construction and a construction specific toolkit also being issued.
  • 2025/26 Road Cash Data Project begins.

The Cabinet Secretary for Transport recently met with RoSPA on a 1-2-1 basis and one area discussed was the improvement of fleet safety and what can be done by both RoSPA and Transport Scotland.

Action: Caitlin Taylor and Stephen Bridgman to meet and discuss the health care sector toolkit.

Public Health Scotland

  • Deliverable: 24/23 – Work remains ongoing as per written update within the Deliverables paper. In due course the report will be shared with the OPG.
  • Deliverable: 24/26 – Annual report was published last week and the link will be shared in due course.
  • Deliverable: 25/08 – Annual report on unintentional injuries that includes information on road traffic injury hospital admissions will be published in Oct.
  • Deliverable: 25/10 – PHS Analyst now approved at SPB..

Action: Stephen Bridgman to share link to Annual Report with Secretariat, who will share with OPG.

Action: Secretariat to set a meeting between PHS and RSP to discuss the PHS Analyst position.

SCOTS

All deliverables remain in progress. Key areas of discussion raised at the last SCOTS meeting included the implementation of 20mph speed limits, pavement parking exemptions, and road safety education. Concerns were raised regarding inconsistencies across local authorities, particularly the presence or absence of dedicated road safety education representatives.

Chair attended the executive SCOTS group the previous week. There was a decision taken to have a single road safety group at the executive level.

Action: RSS and SCOTS to meet and discuss the learning resources.

British Horse Society

  • Deliverable: 24/42 – Road safety education has not progressed as hoped due to staffing changes.
  • Deliverable: 24/43 – Campaign is very active on social media and attended many agricultural shows. Have been encouraging horse owners to down the app.
  • Deliverable: 25/16 – Stats are within the deliverables paper and work is ongoing with the Police Scotland mounted branch.
  • Deliverable: 25/16 – Pilot project running in Tayside, trialling A1 roadside posters. In the areas trialled there has been huge amounts of success. The posters are required to be placed on private land, however there are concerns that this may become an issue with local authority planning divisions.

Action: BHS and RSS to meet and discuss road safety education.

Action: BHS and SCOTS to discuss the road side posters.

Cycling Scotland

The VRU group has now been established and is having quarterly meetings.

Cycling Scotland has received funding to do research into work related road risk from fleets.

Continue to provide road user awareness training, adult cycle training and Bikeability training. There are a further 4 local authorities providing cycling training to 100% to primary schools (total of 14 councils).

Stirling Council are now consulting on new conditions for the licensed taxi drivers, who now need to undertake vulnerable road user awareness training before they are able to receive their license.

IAM RoadSmart

Focus remains on driving and riding and continue to work in partnership with Police Scotland on Rider Refinement programme with 42 courses nationally, with a wash-up in September.

Road Safety Hubs have seen an increase in the numbers of those attending advance driving and riding courses.

Continue to work with RSS in relation to mature driver reviews.

HMICS Recommendations Update

An update was provided by Police Scotland on the progress being made to address the recommendations stemming from the HMICS report.

The Governance and Assurance Board has been established, which will oversee the work undertaken in relation to the HMICS recommendations.

An improvement plan has been developed, which is an amalgamation of many different plans. There has been 127 actions developed across the 13 recommendations, 82 actions are considered complete (64% completion rate). Some of the outstanding actions will the brought to the OPG in due course.

Action: PS to share actions stemming from HMICS recommendations with RSP ahead of the next OPG with the aim of brining them to the group at the next meeting.

Risk Register

Since the last meeting the risk register has been reviewed and brought up to date. Comments from the members were reviewed and it was agreed that they are to be included within the risk register.

Action: All members to review risk register alongside minutes and return edits to RSP.

Road Safety Funding

Road Safety Improvement Fund

£14.25 million has been allocated to the Road Safety Improvement Fund in the 2025/26 budget. On 22 August, COSLA’s Settlement and Distribution Group approved the RSIF funding distribution model, and final sign-off was given by COSLA Leaders on 29 August.

Grant offer letters confirming funding levels for each local authority will begin to be sent out from today.

Road Safety Framework Fund

Members were informed that decision letters have now been issued for all applications to the Road Safety Framework Fund for 2025–26. The Road Safety Policy team is currently working with successful applicants to confirm key milestones before issuing the formal grant offer letters.

Communications Handling Plan

Ryan Gilbert provided an update on the Road Safety Communications Handling Plan. As part of that the group discussed ensuring the plan contained key comms activities for all members between now and March 2026. It was agreed that all members would review and provide contributions to the plan.

Members were reminded that Transport Scotland can share and promote partners road safety announcements, schemes and events and to get in touch should they wish for this to be promoted.

Action: Secretariat to share the Comms plan and ask for members to update with planned announcements which are scheduled or likely to take place until March 2026

AOB & Next Meeting

Chris Thompson shared the Living Streets Proposal with members.

All members agreed the Living Streets proposal.

Action: George and Chris to meet to discuss the proposal progress.

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Published Date 27 Oct 2025 Type Mode of transport Topic