This content is out of date and scheduled to be removed.

Call to ‘look out for each other’ this Road Safety Week

Image of Faye Sunderland
Author: | Updated: 17 Nov 2014 15:59

Road safety charity Brake is calling for all road users to ‘look out for each other’ as the Road Safety Week gets underway.

It is hoped that the annual campaign will help stop the five deaths and 61 serious injuries that are reported on the UK’s roads every day, by in particular focussing on the safety of vulnerable groups such as those on bikes and on foot.

Bikeability training copyright the Department for Transport

It is these vulnerable groups, which also includes horse riders and motorcyclists, which make up around half of road deaths in the UK every year.

A part of Road Safety Week, Brake has teamed up with RSA and Specsavers today to reveal the shocking extent to which careless driving can put all road users at risk.

According to Brake, almost one million fixed penalty notices were issued for ‘careless driving’ and speeding offences in 2013 –almost two a minute.

The result of dangerous and inconsiderate driving can be devastating and even fatal.

Driver beware

Another high risk group in danger of paying for other’s mistakes is children. In a survey of 5,000 primary school children, it was found that 41% said they have been hit or nearly hit by a vehicle while on bike or on foot.

As a result, the majority of children (67%) think roads in their community can be dangerous for those walking and cycling; discouraging children and their parents from partaking in healthy, active forms of travel.

Brake wants to see all road users looking out for each other, but is particularly urging drivers to protect people on foot and bike – by slowing down to 20mph in residential areas, looking longer and taking it slowly at junctions and bends, and giving people plenty of room and consideration.

Julie Townsend, deputy chief executive of Brake, said: “When drivers use roads without care for others the consequences can be tragic and horrific – people killed and badly injured, lives ruined forever, because of a moment of impatience or selfishness.

“At Brake we witness the suffering that results, daily, through our work supporting people affected by road death and injury. And there are wider consequences if we don’t look out for each other on roads – people afraid to walk and cycle or let their kids walk and cycle, and unable to get out and enjoy their community and live active lifestyles. That’s why, instead of making our streets stressful, risky places, we’re asking all road users to look out for and protect each other, particularly the most vulnerable – that means drivers sticking to 20 or below in towns and villages, looking carefully at junctions, and being considerate.

“Ultimately, we’re all just human beings trying to get around, with equal right to use the roads, not competing tribes.”

In the UK in 2013, 405 people were killed and 5,160 seriously injured walking, and 113 people were killed and 3,185 seriously injured cycling. That's 24 people a day killed or seriously injured on foot or bike – one every hour.

Previous Post Next Post
Not sure what car you want?
  • Easy-to-use tool
  • Save time and money
  • Meet your match
Find your dream car