My Role in The Safe System

Professor Ian Loader is Professor of Criminology and Professorial Fellow of All Souls College, University of Oxford, and a Fellow of the British Academy. One of Britain's most eminent criminologists, his career has spanned policing, penal policy and public attitudes to crime. In recent years he has turned his attention to a radical new question: what does the car tell us about crime, harm, and justice? His Leverhulme Trust Major Research Fellowship, running until 2028, pursues the project 'Car harms: Automobility and the objects of criminology', and his landmark paper 'Beyond Motonormative Punishment', published in the British Journal of Criminology in 2026, is already reshaping how we think about road safety, law, and regulation…

Vicky Folland is keen to use her 20-plus years of experience in driver education, from learner drivers to fleet training, to offer a unique insight into road user behaviour and risk. She’s a RoSPA-affiliated trainer, a trustee of the Road Safety Trust and she looks after the communication and engagement for the Institute of Master Tutors of Driving. Her interests include equity in road safety funding, behaviour change and raising training standards. She advocates for practitioner voices at strategic level and contributes governance expertise as a Women on Boards UK member and school governor.

In this edition explore the Safe System in practice with Chief Officer Craig Flannery and Head of Community Safety Aled Griffiths from Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service. They discuss how fire and rescue services contribute far beyond emergency response, from prevention and education to partnership working across agencies. Hear how their on-the-ground experience is shaping safer roads, reducing harm and supporting a more integrated approach to road safety across Wales and beyond.

In this episode of My Role in the Safe System, we’re joined by Eric Richardson – one of the most influential voices in global fleet and urban road safety. As New York City’s former Deputy Chief Fleet Officer, Eric helped push Vision Zero from slogan to reality, rolling out safer vehicles, telematics and sideguards across one of the world’s busiest city fleets. Now Road Safety Advisor to Together for Safer Roads and Strategic Mobility Advisor at Windels Marx, he explains how big fleets, smart data and public–private partnerships can slash risk on busy urban networks. We explore why boards need to treat road safety as a core business performance issue, not just a compliance tick‑box, and what it really takes to build a “zero harm” safety culture. Eric shares powerful examples from major operators like PepsiCo and UPS, shows how smaller fleets can tap into TSR’s tools and support, and reflects on what New York’s Vision Zero journey can teach cities worldwide. We also look ahead at AI-enabled safety tech, intelligent speed assistance and the Safe System ingredients that give him real optimism for the next decade.

In this episode we’re joined by James Gibson of Road Safety GB and Professor Charles Musselwhite to reflect on the Mature Drivers’ Conference held in Birmingham at the end of April 2026. With more than six million drivers aged over 70 on UK roads, we explore the growing urgency of supporting safe, sustainable mobility in later life. The conversation unpacks key insights from the event, from Safe System thinking and policy priorities to the human factors shaping identity, wellbeing and life beyond driving. We discuss gaps in current provision, the realities of driving cessation, and what practical steps road safety professionals can take to better support an ageing driver population.

Professor Sally Kyd from the University of Leicester is one of the UK’s leading experts on driving law and criminal justice. She has spent more than two decades studying how our legal framework responds when drivers cause death or serious injury. Her research challenges some long-held assumptions about what makes someone a “competent and careful driver.” In our latest episode (24 April 2026), James Luckhurst hears from Professor Kyd about the current legal framework for driving offences in the UK. The conversation focuses on the distinction between careless and dangerous driving, as well as the need for a comprehensive review of the law. Two recent fatal driving sentences are examined: Javonnie Tavener and Madeleine Lonsdale – discussing the rationale behind the charges, judicial reactions and the implications for legal consistency and public understanding. Professor Kyd considers the gap between public expectations and actual sentencing in fatal driving cases, as well as the influence of media narratives and the challenges of outcome and hindsight bias in public opinion.

Sarah Smithurst MBE is Chief Operating Officer at the National Trailer and Towing Association (NTTA), the UK’s main body representing the light towing industry. She leads operational delivery, member services and organisational development, championing high standards in trailer safety and customer service. With a background spanning public and private sectors, including extensive work with Nottinghamshire Police and Ghana Police, she brings wide-ranging project management and partnership experience. Passionate about Ghana, road safety and professional development, she is committed to raising standards across the towing sector and supporting people and businesses to thrive. National Trailer & Towing Association Ltd

Duncan Vernon is a senior public health specialist in Warwickshire with a background in transport, road safety and health inequalities. He is Associate/Deputy Director and Consultant in Public Health working across Warwickshire County Council and South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust, contributing to the Coventry and Warwickshire Integrated Care System and Health and Wellbeing Board. Previously at RoSPA, he authored “Road Safety and Public Health” and led projects connecting active travel, urban planning and population health. His current work focuses on neighbourhood health, homelessness and health data, and using cross-sector partnerships to improve outcomes for vulnerable communities.

George Chester-Master has built one of the UK’s most influential car culture channels, turning more than a billion views into a force for safer, smarter driving among young and enthusiast drivers. In this episode, he talks candidly to James Luckhurst about his journey from creating engaging performance-focused content to becoming a trusted voice on legality, etiquette and risk on the road. ​ Crucially, George is willing to unpack the story behind his driving ban – how “just a bit over” on several SP30 offences added up to a court appearance, a six‑month loss of licence and a hard reset of his attitudes to speed, responsibility and the consequences of everyday choices. He explains how that experience, together with losing friends to dangerous and impaired driving, reshaped his mission to “race the track, not the road” and to act as a relatable “bigger brother” for his audience. George's Car Media - Website George's Car Media - YouTube George's Car Media - Instagram George's Car Media - Facebook George's Car Media - LinkedIn

Renee Rogers from Ono talks to James about supporting drivers following a fleet collision. Renee is founder and chief executive of Ono, a company that supports drivers and fleets in the aftermath of some of the most stressful incidents on the road, helping them navigate both the human and organisational impacts of collisions. She also serves as a trustee of the Association for Road Risk Management (ARRM), the professional body focused on managing work-related road risk and championing evidence-led, safesystem thinking across organisations of all sizes. In this conversation James Luckhurst explores how her work with Ono and ARRM fits into the Safe System approach, what that means for employers and professional drivers, and how better post‑crash support and leadership can contribute to a future free from death and serious injury on our roads Ono Website

James talks to Steve Bird about how National Highways and the Emergency Services CLEAR a major incident on the Strategic Road Network England’s motorways and major A‑roads make up the Strategic Road Network – more than 4,300 miles of high‑speed routes managed and operated by National Highways . This network is among the most advanced anywhere in the world, supporting around 4 million journeys every day and moving over a billion tonnes of freight each year. It underpins the country’s social and economic wellbeing by linking communities, enabling access to employment, and keeping businesses connected. When a serious incident occurs, a core priority is to resolve the situation quickly and efficiently so any casualties can be swiftly attended to and the road can reopen. The CLEAR approach highlights how teams work closely with emergency services and other partners to achieve these aims. CLEAR is often described as a way of getting roads open more quickly after major incidents. Steve explains how this fits within the wider Safe System approach where safety, evidence and learning come first rather than simply ‘getting traffic moving’.

Bobby Colleran died in Liverpool in 2014 at the age of six. As a result, his mother Joanne founded the Bobby Colleran Trust and works tirelessly to provide children with road safety education resources. In March 2023, after years of fundraising and dedication, she opened Bobby’s Base, a unique health and well-being centre in West Derby, Liverpool. This one-of-a-kind, child-friendly space offers therapy, a sensory garden, and a calm, nurturing environment where children can heal, build resilience, and regain confidence. James Luckhurst went to Bobby's Base where he caught up with Joanne and her colleague Anne Mckenna. The Bobby Colleran Trust

For this episode, we welcome Adrian Walsh, a defining voice in UK road safety for decades leading initiatives that have transformed how transport safety is understood and delivered. As director of Road Safe and founder of the Prince Michael International Road Safety Awards, Adrian has championed collaboration, innovation and evidence led change. This conversation allows a chance to reflect on his remarkable journey, and in particular, his contributions to the safe system and the future of road safety. Adrian's leadership has inspired generations of professionals committed to saving lives and building safer transport networks worldwide.

James Luckhurst sits down with Sarah Vaughan , lead researcher at Angelica Solutions, to explore one of the fastest-changing areas in urban mobility: the rise of E-bikes, and what their growth means for safety, behaviour, policy, and the wider Safe System. Sarah, who has over 20 years of experience in the insurance industry, returns to the podcast with insights from her latest white paper, which analyses e-bike usage, risks, and opportunities. Her work blends hard data, roadside observation, and industry expertise to help policymakers, insurers, and transport professionals understand how this emerging mode fits into the vision of sustainable, safe transport. In this episode: Why E-bikes matter - the huge potential for active travel, reduced congestion, and greener cities. Where the risks are growing- including lack of helmet use (just 19% of riders observed), red-light jumping (54% of E-bike riders), and the rise of unregistered or illegally modified bikes. The data challenge - how the absence of E-bike identifiers in Stats19 hampers meaningful analysis and makes collisions hard to track. Delivery riders and new behaviours - what happens when a rapidly expanding workforce has no licensing, training, or traceability. Infrastructure frustrations - why human behaviour at junctions can’t be fixed by enforcement alone, and what Scandinavian examples can teach us Insurance concerns - the gap in protection for pedestrians and riders when most bikes aren’t insured and collisions go unrecorded. Policy questions - whether registration, speed compliance, or clearer rules are needed before adoption outpaces safety frameworks. Simple, practical steps - from promoting helmet use and alcohol awareness to encouraging mutual respect between all road users. Sarah also talks us through her personal journey from cautious observer to regular E-bike rider, and how those lived experiences sharpened her interest in understanding the true risks and rewards of E-bikes today. Find out more about Project EDWARD here. Welcome to the Project EDWARD Podcast, where we explore data-driven actions for safe mobility. Join the EDWARD team and our key partners as we facilitate events, symposiums, webinars, discussions, and podcast episodes. Our mission is to share evidence-led good practices that support the Safe System. Tune in to stay informed and inspired by the latest in road safety and mobility innovations. Follow us on: Facebook LinkedIn Instagram

James Luckhurst sits down with Tom Duckham , Chief Executive of Redspeed International, for a conversation about technology, enforcement, career journeys, and what it really takes to make a lasting difference in road safety. Tom’s road into the industry was anything but conventional. As he puts it, a youth spent as a motorcycle dispatch rider meant he “saw things… that I wish I could unsee now”, experiences that quietly planted the seed for a lifelong commitment to reducing death and injury on the roads. From his early days installing London’s first speed cameras in the early 1990s, through the era of camera partnerships, media battles, and evolving public attitudes, Tom talks openly about the challenges and misconceptions surrounding enforcement. Throughout, Tom stresses the importance of partnership over product, summed up in Redspeed’s new strapline: “Safer Roads, Smarter Solutions, Protecting Communities.” Find out more about Project EDWARD here. Welcome to the Project EDWARD Podcast, where we explore data-driven actions for safe mobility. Join the EDWARD team and our key partners as we facilitate events, symposiums, webinars, discussions, and podcast episodes. Our mission is to share evidence-led good practices that support the Safe System. Tune in to stay informed and inspired by the latest in road safety and mobility innovations. Follow us on: Facebook LinkedIn Instagram

Commercial drivers keep the UK running, but the personal toll is huge, with high rates of diabetes, chronic fatigue, poor nutrition, and growing mental-health pressures. In this First Friday conversation, James Luckhurst brings together a panel of experts to unpack what’s really happening behind the wheel and what can be done about it. Featuring Mark Cartwright (National Highways), Anna Earl (nutrevival), Kate Walker (Diabetes Safety Organisation), and Shaun Bridle (Warwickshire County Council), the discussion digs into the realities of shift work, blood-sugar crashes, missed warning signs, and why many drivers avoid seeking help. You’ll hear practical, realistic solutions: small nutritional changes that make a big difference, how employers can support healthier habits, why driver roadworthiness needs board-level attention, and the hidden risks like peripheral neuropathy that often go unnoticed. It’s an honest, insightful look at the human side of commercial driving — and how improving driver wellbeing improves road safety for everyone. Find out more about Project EDWARD here. Welcome to the Project EDWARD Podcast, where we explore data-driven actions for safe mobility. Join the EDWARD team and our key partners as we facilitate events, symposiums, webinars, discussions, and podcast episodes. Our mission is to share evidence-led good practices that support the Safe System. Tune in to stay informed and inspired by the latest in road safety and mobility innovations. Follow us on: Facebook LinkedIn Instagram

In this fifth edition of Project EDWARD Goes Global , we travel to New Zealand to explore how evidence-based policy and political decision-making can collide when it comes to road safety. Professor Simon Kingham, former Chief Science Advisor to the Ministry of Transport, shares his experience of helping shape the country’s “Road to Zero” strategy, and his frustration as a new government moves to reverse key safety measures, including lower speed limits. Simon discusses the real-world consequences of sidelining science, the importance of co-benefits such as cleaner air and stronger communities, and why evidence, not ideology, must guide the path to safer roads. It’s an honest, sobering conversation about progress, setbacks, and persistence - a reminder that leadership, accountability, and valuing human life must sit at the heart of every transport decision. Find out more about Project EDWARD here. Welcome to the Project EDWARD Podcast, where we explore data-driven actions for safe mobility. Join the EDWARD team and our key partners as we facilitate events, symposiums, webinars, discussions, and podcast episodes. Our mission is to share evidence-led good practices that support the Safe System. Tune in to stay informed and inspired by the latest in road safety and mobility innovations. Follow us on: Facebook LinkedIn Instagram

In this edition of Project EDWARD Goes Global , the spotlight turns to Vietnam, where innovation and youth empowerment are driving safer roads. James Luckhurst speaks with Trang Truong from the AIP Foundation , whose AI and Me project recently won a Prince Michael International Road Safety Award . By combining artificial intelligence with youth engagement, the initiative empowers students to identify and map high-risk areas around their schools. Their insights have already led to tangible improvements, crossings, speed bumps, and clearer signage at dozens of schools. Trang explains how the project overcame challenges such as COVID-19 disruptions and government bureaucracy through flexibility, creativity, and partnership. She also shares three key lessons: trust young people, pair technology with advocacy, and build strong partnerships. This episode highlights how smart technology and empowered communities can work together to make lasting, life-saving change on the world’s roads. AIP Foundation – Transforming Mobility for All Find out more about Project EDWARD here. Welcome to the Project EDWARD Podcast, where we explore data-driven actions for safe mobility. Join the EDWARD team and our key partners as we facilitate events, symposiums, webinars, discussions, and podcast episodes. Our mission is to share evidence-led good practices that support the Safe System. Tune in to stay informed and inspired by the latest in road safety and mobility innovations. Follow us on: Facebook LinkedIn Instagram

In the third edition of Project EDWARD Goes Global , host Harrison Keasey speaks with Thomas Edelmann , founder of Road Safety UAE, a platform dedicated to raising awareness and accountability on the nation’s roads. With over a decade of impact, Thomas shares how evidence-based research, media collaboration, and partnerships with government and industry have helped drive major progress, including the introduction of the UAE’s holistic seatbelt law. The discussion explores the power of data, corporate responsibility, and education in building a lasting safety culture in a diverse, fast-growing country. From tackling distracted driving to shaping safer habits among young motorists, this episode highlights how passion, persistence, and collaboration can truly save lives. Road Safety UAE | The first Road Safety Portal in the UAE Find out more about Project EDWARD here. Welcome to the Project EDWARD Podcast, where we explore data-driven actions for safe mobility. Join the EDWARD team and our key partners as we facilitate events, symposiums, webinars, discussions, and podcast episodes. Our mission is to share evidence-led good practices that support the Safe System. Tune in to stay informed and inspired by the latest in road safety and mobility innovations. Follow us on: Facebook LinkedIn Instagram

In this episode of Project EDWARD Goes Global , host Harrison Keasey visits Helsinki, a city long celebrated as a model for Vision Zero success. Joined by Dr. Igor Radun, a traffic psychology researcher, and Roni Utriainen, a traffic engineer for the City of Helsinki, the discussion explores how Finland’s capital achieved a full year without a single road fatality, and what lessons can be learned from that achievement. The guests reflect on the many factors behind safer roads, from lower speed limits and improved cycling infrastructure to strong public transport and long-term policy commitment. Yet, recent tragedies highlight how fragile progress can be. Together, they examine how randomness, data interpretation, and the political climate all influence road safety. Ultimately, the conversation underscores that while Vision Zero provides a powerful framework, maintaining safety demands constant vigilance, evidence-based action, and collaboration across every level of society. Find out more about Project EDWARD here. Welcome to the Project EDWARD Podcast, where we explore data-driven actions for safe mobility. Join the EDWARD team and our key partners as we facilitate events, symposiums, webinars, discussions, and podcast episodes. Our mission is to share evidence-led good practices that support the Safe System. Tune in to stay informed and inspired by the latest in road safety and mobility innovations. Follow us on: Facebook LinkedIn Instagram