Families and community groups are urged to get involved with Road Safety Week 2016 (21-27 November), the UK’s biggest road safety event. Road safety charity Brake, which coordinates the event, is encouraging parents and community leaders to go to www.roadsafetyweek.org.uk to get ideas on promoting safer road use and campaigning for safer local roads, and to register for a free e-action pack.
Road Safety Week has been inspiring people for 19 years and is coordinated with the support of headline sponsors Aviva and Specsavers, and the Department for Transport. It’s a great opportunity for community groups, families and schools to take action on local road safety issues and raise awareness to prevent needless casualties.
Parents and community road safety champions can access free electronic resources and guidance to help them get involved. Go to www.roadsafetyweek.org.uk/communities for ideas and to register for a free e-action pack (available from September). This includes downloadable, interactive resources, advice and case studies of what others have done in previous years.
For this year’s Road Safety Week, Brake has chosen to focus on the six elements of the Brake Pledge: Slow, Sober, Secure, Silent, Sharp and Sustainable. The charity is encouraging drivers, families and whole communities to make and share Brake’s Pledge, showing their commitment to saving lives and keeping roads safe by keeping to six simple rules. Community groups, schools and organisations can run activities, from fundraisers, campaigns and competitions, to running road safety workshops in partnership with local authorities, emergency services or other agencies to explore the Brake Pledge. Read more.
Dave Nichols, community engagement manager for Brake, said: “We’ve designed this year’s theme to be action orientated. Anyone can make and share the Pledge – individuals, schools and parents. It’s practical, and if every driver vowed to slow down, never drink or take drugs when driving or use their mobiles, always wear a seat belt and make sure children are safely restrained, get their eyesight regularly tested, and minimise the amount they drive, then our roads would be safer places for everyone.
“Parents and community groups can help get these vital messages out to families, young people and local drivers, making a big difference to their local community. I would encourage anyone who hasn’t already registered to sign up now for our free action pack.”
