Road Safety Strategic Partnership Board to 2030 - meeting minutes - 25 March 2026
Attendance
Members
- Fiona Hyslop (Chair) – Cabinet Secretary for Transport
- Hugh Gillies (HG) (Co-Chair) - TS - Director of Roads
- George Henry (GH) – Transport Scotland (TS) – Head of Roads Policy and Safety
- Robert Nicol (RN) – Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA)
- Colin Park (CP) – The Scottish Collaboration of Transportation Specialists (SCOTS)
- Oliver Harding (OH) – National Health Service (NHS)
- Scott McCarren (SM) – Police Scotland (PS)
- Margaret Douglas (MD) – Public Health Scotland (PHS)
In Attendance
- Donald Morrison (DM) – TS – Head of Asset Management, Procurement and Policy
- Stewart Leggett (SL) – TS – Head of Operations
- Steven Feeney (SF) – TS – Head of Road Safety Policy
- Michelle Van der stighelen (MVds) – TS – Safety Camera Programme
- Ryan Gilbert (RG) – TS – Strategic Communications Manager (Roads)
- Cathy Barlow - Scottish Fire & Rescue Service (SFRS)
Apologies
- Kenneth Barbour (KB) – Scottish Fire & Rescue Service
- Alan Waddell (AW) – Police Scotland
- Cllr Gail MacGregor (GM) – Spokesperson for Environment and Economy - COSLA
Secretariat
- Ben McKenna (BM) – TS – Road Safety Policy
Welcome and Introductions
The Chair thanked members for taking the time to attend, noted that 2025 had seen a reduction in road fatalities and expressed appreciation for members’ continued commitment to road safety.
The Chair expressed that strong partnership working and sustained collective effort would be fundamental to achieving the targets set out in the Road Safety Framework.
The Board noted that in December 2025 the outcomes of the National Speed Management Review were announced, with a decision made to progress the steps required to implement an increase to HGV speed limits. The Board noted that this change aimed to reduce speed differentials, alleviate driver frustration and improve journey time reliability.
The Chair also highlighted that the UK Government published its Road Safety Strategy on 7 January 2026 and the Chair strongly encouraged all member organisations to consider responding to the public consultations, which are open until 11 May.
The Board also noted the record £48 million investment in road safety in 2025/26 and that this had supported local schemes, trunk road engineering measures, targeted safety camera deployment, and national behaviour‑change campaigns.
Previous Minutes and Actions
The previous minutes were circulated and no comments received, these have since been published on the TS website.
Knowledge, Data and Analysis
2026 Police Management Information Data
The latest management information data was presented, and the Board noted that Police Scotland continued to monitor analytical data to identify activity trends and explore ways to prevent casualties.
The Chair asked that officials prepare a note for the new Administration to highlight that motorcyclists continue to be overrepresented in casualty statistics.
Action: Officials to include concerns on motorcyclists and how these continue to be overrepresented in casualties in SCANCE note for the new Minister/Cabinet Secretary.
Owner: Transport Scotland
Road Safety Framework to 2030
Mid-Term Review
George Henry (GH) advised the Board that the Mid Term Review continued to be delivered in four stages: Stage 1: Review Evidence; Stage 2: Explore Implementation; Stage 3: Analyse Findings; Stage 4: Report & Recommendations.
The Board noted that Stage 2 was underway and board members had been invited to interview to gather views to inform this work. Furthermore, the Board noted the review was expected to conclude by summer 2026, a final report would be shared with members thereafter.
HMICS Recommendations Progress
Scott McCarron (SM) provided an update on progress delivering the recommendations flowing from this work. The Board noted 6 recommendations had been discharged from 13. The Board noted lead officers continued to hold internal performance meetings to progress these recommendations.
The Chair asked that a meeting be held with the new Administration and Police Scotland to present the casualty stats, outline our current road safety performance, and also update on the development of Road Traffic Diversionary Courses and Journey Cam.
Action: Officials to arrange a meeting with the new Minister/Cabinet Secretary with Police Scotland in attendance to present the casualty stats, outline our current road safety performance, and provide a progress update on the development of Road Traffic Diversionary Courses and Journey Cam.
Owner: Transport Scotland
Partner Updates
CoSLA – Robert Nicol (RN) advised the Board that toad safety continued to be a priority for CoSLA. The Board noted that a paper on road safety would be considered at the next Environment and Economy Board. GH agreed to attend the next Environment and Economy Board meeting to present on road safety.
Action: RN to liaise with GH to arrange attendance at the Environment and Economy Board to present on road safety.
Owner: Robert Nicol
Police Scotland – SM updated the Board who noted that behaviour of e-scooter users continued to be an issue. SM advised that Police Scotland continued to highlight the use of these vehicles and the Chair asked that members consider putting e-scooters on the agenda at future board meetings.
Action: Consider putting e-scooters on the agenda at future meetings to discuss issues and legislative matters.
Owner: Secretariat
SCOTS – PM advised the Board that road safety continued to be a priority for SCOTS members. SCOTS Executive Group thanked the Cabinet Secretary for her commitment and support to roads authorities. CP highlighted the resource pressures with delivering the Road Safety Improvement Fund and 20mph Strategy.
SFRS – The Board noted there had been an increase in fire incidents, and there have been occasions where fires have occurred in road traffic collisions. The SFRS advised the Board that they had delivered over 200 events through 2025/26 including BikerDown events. The Board noted that work continued with the Gig Economy to highlight the safety to their employees.
NHS/PHS – The Board noted that an Umbrella Review had been undertaken, and aimed to publish and highlight to stakeholders after the pre-election period. The Board also noted that a report on buses and health had been published.
Action: PHS to liaise with officials to discuss the best approach to sharing the Umbrella Review on road safety amongst road safety partners.
Owner: Margaret Douglas
Safety Cameras – MvS advised that the annual site selection exercise had been undertaken and this had identified one new location for camera deployment.
The Board noted that the trial involving Distracted Driver Technology was underway.
Trunk Road Casualty Reduction Team - £12.25m for low cost trunk engineering measures and 20 mph delivery. Examples of schemes were provided in the paper to members which include bend, junction and lay-by treatments.
Road Safety Progress and Commitments
2025 Provisional Road Casualty Statistics
Members discussed Police Management data, to discuss the road safety performance over 2025 and identify emerging trends. This data will be published when Key Reported Road Casualties is published in June.
Department for Transport Road Safety Strategy
Officials continued to engage with the DfT and the other home nations on multiple elements of the Road Safety Strategy. There are a series of consultations that were published at the same time as the Strategy. The Board noted that Transport Scotland would respond to all consultations, and members were encouraged to respond before the consultation closes. GH will be in touch next month to discuss TS proposed responses.
Action: GH to contact members in April to share Transport Scotland’s proposed responses to the consultations flowing from the UK Governments Road Safety Strategy and discuss collective views and have a joined up approach.
Owner: George Henry
Risk Register
HG advised that the Board would have an in-depth look at the risk register once the new Administration is formed.
Communications Handling Plan
RG highlighted the recent communications activity which included national road safety activity and local road safety schemes. Members were encouraged to highlight road safety activity that respective partner organisations planned to deliver.
AOB and Next Meeting
The next meeting will be held on Wednesday 26th August 2026.