Road safety charity IAM RoadSmart has announced key organisational changes to spearhead change in road safety policy and regulation.

The new strategy will refocus on working with the community, as well as welcoming new trustees

In 2022, there were over 1,600 deaths on UK roads – and with technology advances and unregulated transport on most UK roads, IAM RoadSmart is campaigning for urgent change to drastically bring the number of casualties down.

The new strategy will refocus on working with the community, as well as welcoming new trustees, supporting its mission for all road users to safely and sustainably use the public highways together.

The charity’s new three-year strategy aligns its charitable purpose with a mission to be a force for good, with education and skills development at its core. Uniting its many members, groups, volunteers and partners as a force for good in improving road safety, creating safer drivers and riders, and reducing deaths and collisions on the roads.

Antony Kildare, CEO at IAM RoadSmart, said: “We have refocused our charity by developing a three-year strategy that’s supported by our community of volunteers, members, groups and staff, to protect the future of road safety.”

He added: “As part of our new strategy, we will continue to work with government and other transport partners to build a future-proof road network, with sufficient regulation and safety measures to protect everyone on our roads.”

The five new trustees to the board join from across a variety of sectors to drive the organisation forward to improve road safety and reduce road deaths to zero.

They include Rupert Newman, who has been an IAM RoadSmart member since 2021, runs his own coaching and consulting business and volunteers as a Blood Biker in his spare time.

Mark Powell brings extensive international experience in planning, operations, delivery, and business development. He volunteers as a national observer for IAM RoadSmart and is a firm believer in the benefits of education and training in developing individuals and organisations.

Mark Armitage has worked in the automotive sector since 1998, including for the IMI in a senior role from 2015 until 2023 and more recently as group commercial director for the Autotech Group.

Angela Bell has a long-standing relationship with IAM RoadSmart, becoming an advanced driver in 1996 and quickly moving on to become an observer, masters mentor, then group chair before taking on a role as a regional groups co-ordinator. A solicitor by background, Bell moved to pursue a career in the public sector in 2000 and has since worked in several roles providing legal and policy advice to the Northern Ireland Administration.

Sarah Whiteside-Jones is currently head of membership and external affairs at the IMI and is passionate about education, membership and helping organisations deliver great member value by placing member needs at the heart of the organisation.

Antony Kildare added: “It’s an exciting time for IAM RoadSmart as we welcome five additional trustees to the Board who bring with them a wealth of knowledge, expertise, and experience to drive our mission forward.”