The Road Safety Foundation (formerly the Foundation for Road Safety Research) was founded in 1986 by the UK Automobile Association (then a member-owned motoring club).

The charity was established as a permanent legacy of the 1986 European Road Safety Year as Britain launched its first national casualty reduction target. The charity was initially called the AA Foundation for Road Safety Research in recognition of its major donor at the time. The Foundation was modelled on the successful charity, the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, founded in the USA by the American Automobile Association.

The objectives of the Road Safety Foundation are to carry out or procure research into all factors affecting the safe use of public roads.

The key programme of the Road Safety Foundation is the European Road Assessment Programme (EuroRAP), itself founded as a non-profit association by the Foundation.

Road Safety Foundation Ltd is registered in England and Wales under company number 02069723. Registered office: 60 Trafalgar Square, London, WC2N 5DS, UK