To coincide with Road Safety Week 2019, road safety charity Brake has revealed that nearly a third of adults have been involved in a collision, or had a near miss, with a vehicle on a UK road in the past year. This proportion rises to more than half when just young adults (18-34-year-olds) are concerned.
The research has been published to highlight the level of danger felt on UK roads and to encourage people to “Step Up for Safe Streets”, the theme of this year’s Road Safety Week (18-24 November).
“These findings paint an alarming picture of the danger on our roads and yet it’s what we’re all exposed to, every day, when getting about,” said Joshua Harris, Director of Campaigns for Brake, the road safety charity. “We shouldn’t have to accept this level of risk as part of our daily lives and so we are calling on everyone to ‘Step Up’ for Road Safety Week and shout out for the solutions that we know can make our roads safe.
Brake says crashes and near misses can have a significant impact on people’s perceptions of safety, making streets feel less welcoming and holding people back from choosing to walk and cycle – modes of transport which have support from the road safety community and Government as they reduce car use, and so the level of danger on the roads, as well as improving public health.
Schoolchildren, community groups and employees across the country are taking part in activities during Road Safety Week, helping them learn about solutions that can eliminate road death and serious injury. Brake is also sharing how everyone can “Step Up” and help improve road safety in their daily lives, suggesting that people choose to leave the car at home, when possible, helping improve safety and air quality, and pledge to be a safe driver, always keeping within speed limits and never drinking or taking drugs and driving.
