Every day five people die on UK roads, and 62 more are seriously injured – and each death and serious injury causes needless devastation, trauma and suffering, which Brake witnesses alongside companies like Thompsons Solicitors Scotland, in the work we do to support the victims of road crashes.
Road Safety Week is the UK's biggest road safety event, coordinated annually by Brake and involving thousands of schools, organisations and communities each year. This year, the theme of our Road Safety Week is for everyone to think about how we can all start to ‘drive less, live more’.
Brake believes road safety isn’t just about driving safely and legally, or using the green cross code, although these are important. It’s about making our streets safe and pleasant for everyone to use freely, and doing everything we can to protect ourselves and people around us. A big part of that is driving less, as little as possible, or not at all if you can.
Walking, cycling or using public transport not only helps to make our streets safer, more pleasant and less polluted, it has personal benefits too. It can save families a lot of money, and help people live healthier, more active lives.
If we could all consider how we can drive less, then we can create a virtuous circle. Our roads have less traffic, and become safer. This encourages more people to walk and cycle, which in turn makes us more active, and therefore healthier!
All sorts of people get involved - nurseries, schools, youth clubs, army bases, community campaigners, employers, sports clubs, fire officers, local authorities, paramedics, driving instructors... you name it! They get involved in a number of different ways.
First and foremost, you can sign up to receive one of our online Road Safety Week e-resource packs. Included in the packs are free resources and suggested activities for making the most of the week.
Road Safety Week is all about raising awareness about road safety, be it with your staff, or out in the wider community – and this doesn’t have to be a huge undertaking or commitment. Companies can raise awareness about Brake by running Bright Days, by displaying our free Road Safety Week posters prominently, or getting staff to sign the Pledge.
Companies with local links might want to run a road safety day at a local school or work with local councils or emergency services in setting up events for the wider community. From the very simple to the very large, there’s lots you can be doing, so why not sign up and take part!
