< Statistics from GB figures in Road Casualties Great Britain 2006 (Department for Transport, 2007) and figures obtained by Brake from the Police Service of Northern Ireland (2007)
Getting involved in RSW07
Schools, companies, community groups and emergency services around the UK are getting involved in Road Safety Week 2007. With the use of resources and advice on www.roadsafetyweek.org, lifesaving lessons are being taught in classrooms, awareness-raising road shows and 'crash extrications' are being held, presentations are being delivered to young drivers and families, banners and educational materials are spreading life-saving messages on the streets, people are signing Brake's petition for 20mph zones and the pledge to drive safely and concerned members of the public are calling the Zak the Zebra hotline to name and shame dangerous roads in their area. Go to the 'getting involved' page of the website or contact Brake on 01484 559909 to find out what's happening in your area.
Celebrity support for RSW07
RSW07 is backed by a host of celebrities who are adding their voices and personal experience to Brake's campaign, including TV presenter Lorraine Kelly, children's TV presenters Dick and Dom, children's author Jacqueline Wilson, Big Brother winner Craig Philips and Atomic Kitten singer Natasha Hamilton.
Child Road Safety Strategy
The Government's Child Road Safety Strategy 2007, published earlier this year, calls on Local Authorities and the Highways Agency to 'consider' wider use of 20mph zones and traffic calming measures in areas where children use roads. Brake welcomed the move but urges the Government to take more concrete action. The current guidelines for Local Authorities wanting to install 20mph zones continue to be too restrictive. The strategy also states that the DfT will continue to 'monitor' local authorities' performance of child road safety audits. Brake is urging the Government to ensure all Local Authorities carry out child road safety audits in all communities and act upon their audits' findings to introduce appropriate engineering measures.
Brake
Brake is an independent national road safety charity. Brake exists to stop the 9 deaths and 82 serious injuries that happen on UK roads every day and to care for families bereaved and seriously injured in road crashes. Brake produces educational road safety literature, runs community training programmes and runs events including Road Safety Week (5-11 November 2007). Brake's Fleet Safety Forum provides up-to-date fleet safety resources to fleet managers. BrakeCare, Brake's support division, cares for road crash victims through a helpline and other services.