The Department for Transport has announced plans to improve safety measures for rural road users.

The move was announced by roads minister Jesse Norman who said progress had been made on road but more needed to be done.

“The UK has some of the safest roads in the world, but every road death is an unnecessary tragedy,” he said.

Mr Norman said he had asked the department to develop a refreshed road safety statement and a two-year action plan to address four priority user groups.

The groups are: young people, rural road users, motorcyclists and older vulnerable users.

“The first three of these groups are continually overrepresented in our road casualty statistics, while we have data to confirm that the safety of older road users is a growing concern.”

Mr Norman said the government's goal was for everyone to continue to enjoy the mobility that driving offers, but to do so safely.

“The development of this refreshed road safety statement will also take account of the early lessons from the new road collision investigation pilots.”

In the past three years, the government had significantly increased penalties for using mobile phones when driving, said Mr Norman.

Other safety measures included exceeding the government's commitments to funding police forces in England and Wales to build drug-driving enforcement capability.

The government had also allowed learners to drive on motorways when accompanied by an instructor in a dual control car.

“This is good progress. But it is only part of a wider picture,” he said.

Mr Norman also announced successful bids for the government's Safer Roads Fund, enabling local authorities to improve the 50 most dangerous stretches of ‘A’ roads in England.

“We are investing £100 million to tackle these dangerous roads. This sum fully funds all bids from the local authorities concerned.

“The additional £75 million initially allocated for the work has not been required, but we will continue to look closely at further scope for capital improvements to improve road safety.”