Road safety campaigns often focus heavily on public communications - media coverage, campaigns and social media - in the hope that attention will lead to policy change. But visibility alone rarely changes legislation or government policy.

Real influence requires a combination of public narrative and political strategy.

In this joint presentation, Rebecca Morris, a road safety communications specialist, and Kate Honey, Director of KLH Partners and former Department for Transport policy lead, share insights from both sides of the policy influence equation.

Rebecca will explore how strategic communications, media engagement and storytelling help raise awareness and shape public narratives around road harm. Kate will explain how policy decisions are actually made inside government, and why many campaigns struggle to translate public attention into political action.

Drawing on real-world examples, the session will show why successful campaigns need both strong public messaging and informed political engagement. Delegates will gain practical insight into how to define a clear policy ask, align communications with political realities, and increase the likelihood that campaigns lead to meaningful policy change.

Rebecca Morris, Director, Vision Zero Communications

Rebecca Morris is Director of Vision Zero Communications, with 22 years’ experience delivering road safety campaigns and media strategies.

She specialises in using powerful human stories to bring road harm into public and political focus.

Kate Honey FCIHT, Director, KLH Partners Ltd

Kate Honey FCIHT is Director of KLH Partners Ltd and a former Department for Transport policy lead, specialising in political and policy advice for the road safety sector.