‘Desperately disappointing for bereaved and injured’ – plans to end road deaths delayed till 2026

Transport for London (TfL) has delayed publishing plans for the second phase of its mission to end all road deaths and serious injuries on the capital’s roads by 2041.

The transport body had intended to outline its proposals for further reducing road danger with a report, Vision Zero Action Plan 2, later this year. But this will now be published in “early 2026” with no exact date set.

Caroline Russell, Green party London Assembly Member and leader of the Green Group, said: “Further delay by Transport for London (TfL) on publishing Vision Zero Action Plan 2 is desperately disappointing, particularly for bereaved and injured Londoners who know from their own experience exactly why TfL needs to step up a gear to bring an end to road death and injury.

The first Vision Zero Action Plan, published in 2018, put forward steps to make sure “no-one [is] killed in or by a London bus by 2030, and for all deaths and serious injuries from road collisions to be eliminated from London’s streets by 2041”.

In June, officials wrote in a report to the TfL board that a fresh report this year would “ensure we have an up-to-date, clear direction towards reducing the number of people that are killed or seriously injured on London’s streets”.

That month, TfL Commissioner Andy Lord said that “significant acceleration is needed to meet the 2041 Vision Zero ambition”.

The delay, revealed on 18 September to London Assembly members, sparked calls for TfL to “step up a gear to bring an end to road death and injury”.

On the same day, TfL informed members of the publication of two case studies in Helsinki and Oslo where Vision Zero had been achieved.

In correspondence, officials wrote: “Every city is different and presents different challenges, but these case studies offer encouraging evidence that reaching Vision Zero can be a reality if we are prepared to be bold and work together to build on the success we have had so far, knowing there is more we can do.

“We are making progress in London. Since we launched our Vision Zero initiative in 2018, London’s roads have become safer; 24 per cent fewer people were killed or seriously injured in 2024 than the 2010-14 baseline, compared to 13 per cent nationally.

“However, we have much more to do if we are to reach our ambitious targets, and our next Vision Zero Action Plan will set out how we will build on our progress to date. We now plan to publish the plan in early 2026.

“This is to allow us to first finalise the next TfL business plan this December before we then set out an action plan with new concrete, evidence-based measures to eliminate the misery caused by road deaths and injuries.

“In the meantime, together with our partners, we continue to press ahead with a range of activities to make London’s roads safer, including building significant road safety schemes in places like Streatham Hill, Lambeth Bridge and Shepherd’s Bush, bringing in new safer buses and retrofitting older buses with safety features, developing and engaging on future road and vehicle safety initiatives, and delivering a range of training and behaviour change activities.”

Ms Russell, a member of the London Assembly transport committee, said: “Our streets should be safe for every Londoner to cross the road, ride a bike or catch a bus and get home safely in the evening.

“There’s plenty for TfL to get on with to reduce road danger ahead of publication of the strategy and I hope they will show commitment and leadership on this.”

Ms Russell released a series of recommendations to TfL earlier this year to speed up the implementation of Vision Zero. These included a tobacco-style ban on SUV advertising due to the disproportionate dangers that the vehicles present to pedestrians, and actions to reduce traffic volume in collision hotspots.

Tanya Braun, head of external affairs and fundraising at Living Streets, the UK charity for everyday walking, said: “The number of pedestrians dying in road collisions in Greater London has increased by almost 25 per cent, year-on-year. Any delays to the next Vision Zero Action Plan would be extremely disappointing.

“London’s roads should be getting safer for people walking and cycling, but that requires measures that protect these vulnerable road users, such as lower speed limits, better crossings and stronger enforcement. ‘Zero harm’ is standard for health and safety at work, it should be the same on our streets.”

TfL was contacted for comment.