Every 20 minutes, someone is killed or seriously injured on a British road. Each of these tragedies has a devastating effect on families and local communities. This year’s Road Safety Week theme, ‘step up for safe streets’, is focussing on the safe systems approach – the design led solutions that can prevent these tragedies and make local roads safer. These can be anything from 20mph limits in urban areas and vehicle technology which prevents vehicles from speeding, to segregated cycle paths and graduated driver licensing.
Brake is urging everyone to ‘step up’ by leaving the car at home, to help improve safety and air quality, or by pledging to be a safe driver – always keeping within speed limits and never drinking or taking drugs and driving.
Everyone can get involved too by taking part in Brake’s national survey about the safety of the streets where you live. Brake will share the findings from the survey with local authorities to help them understand the views of the people who live, work and play on their streets. This is available from via www.roadsafetyweek.org.uk/survey