Each improvement in star rating results in a
50% reduction
in death and injury rates

The International Road Assessment Programme (iRAP) has developed a star rating system for assessing the safety of roads, with 5-star roads the safest and 1-star the least safe.

iRAP star ratings are based on road inspection data and provide an objective measure of the level of safety which is ‘built-in’ to the road for vehicle occupants, motorcyclists, bicyclists and pedestrians.

In an ideal world, all roads would be 5 star, however, Brake believes its position is achievable as a first step for the UK government and should be written into statute.

Highways England has a commitment to ensure that, by the end of 2020 more than 90% of travel on its roads is at least

3-star rated, and that it improve the majority of 1-star and 2-star rated to 3-star rated or more.

Road Investment Strategy 2 (the plan for the strategic road network for 2020-2025) also contains a commitment to that Highways England will assess the network in 2021 determining a ‘star rating’ baseline and forecast for 2025 based on its investment plan but has dropped a target specifically focused on increasing star ratings.

On roads outside of the strategic road network, the use of star ratings is inconsistent.