18 – 24 November this year sees the biggest road safety event in the UK: Road Safety Week, coordinated each year by the road safety charity Brake.
The aim of the week is to inspire thousands of schools, organisations and communities to take action on road safety as well as promote life-saving messages. The week also provides a focal point for road safety professionals to increase awareness and engagement in their work.
Theme for 2019: Step up for Safe Streets
Each year a different theme is chosen for the Week. This year’s theme is Step up for Safe Streets.
On the roads of Britain, someone is killed or seriously injured every 20 minutes, and Brake say these tragedies are preventable.
During the 2019 Road Safety Week, Brake wants everyone to “Step up for Safe Streets” and for us to learn about and celebrate amazing design-led solutions that will allow us all to get around in safe and healthy ways.
We should consider safe journeys and healthy journeys.
Safe Journeys
Safe journeys are when the road transport network is designed using the safe systems approach. This means they have been designed so that human error doesn’t result in serious injury or death. This encompasses speed limits as well as safety technology in vehicles.
Healthy Journeys
Healthy journeys are just that – where they help to keep us fit, healthy and happy. It is important that when choosing to walk or cycle that we are not put at increased risk and that we are breathing clean air. The emphasis is on the need for policy-makers to step up and prioritise safe spaces for travel on foot and by bike as well as ensuring that the vehicles using our roads use ultra-low emission technology.
Walk to School
In the Spring, Walk to School Week encourages parents to explore alternative methods for taking children to school – please see Are you taking part in Walk to School Week?
To register for your free action pack, visit http://www.roadsafetyweek.org.uk/action-pack .
Brake is a road safety charity that works to prevent road death and injury, make streets and communities safer, and support the victims of road crashes.