Warner Goodman are making the Brake Pledge...are you?

Road Safety Week begins today; an annual event co-ordinated by road safety charity, Brake.  The UK’s biggest road safety event has a different theme each year, with this year’s theme aimed at encouraging everyone to “Make the Brake Pledge”.  Catriona Ralls, Personal Injury Solicitor at Warner Goodman, explains here the importance of the week and why the firm has taken part for the last three years.

Make the Brake Pledge

“Usually Brake’s theme for Road Safety Week encompasses one message; last year’s was to drive less and live more to encourage people to consider alternative methods of transport, and the year before was ‘look out for each other’,” explains Catriona.  “This year’s pledge however encompasses six different yet simple ways that we can make our roads safer and also take a step towards helping our environment.” 

The six steps of Brake’s pledge are:

• Slow – to encourage drivers to abide by the speed limits and slow down on certain roads such as around schools, as well as making adjustments for bends and during bad weather.   The Department for Transport (DoT) reports that breaking the speed limit or not driving appropriately for the weather conditions is a contributory factor in 27% of fatal crashes in Britain. 
• Sober – to encourage drivers to never drive after drinking any alcohol or having any drugs.  In 2013, the DoT found that 11% of drivers and motorcycle riders who had been killed in a crash had alcohol present in their body, with some of those not even over the drink drive limit. 
• Secure – to ensure that all passengers in a vehicle wear a seat belt, and that drivers have the appropriate child safety seats that may be necessary for any passengers.
• Silent – this refers to mobile phone use while behind the wheel, to encourage drivers to put their mobile phone out of reach and switch it off while they are driving and to not be distracted.  According to DoT, 440 road collisions were caused last year due to drivers distracted by their mobile phones, with 22 of those being fatal and 75 considered serious.
• Sharp – to encourage drivers to do all they can to ensure they are fit to drive, from taking breaks during long journeys, having their eyes tested regularly and not driving if on medication that could influence them.  RSA Insurance Group Plc found that 2,900 casualties are caused each year from poor driver vision.  
• Sustainable – to encourage drivers to consider alternative methods of transport, whether that be walking, cycling or public transport, to reduce air pollution and promote healthier living.

Importance of Road Safety Week

“Each of these messages is significant towards reducing the amount of road traffic collisions that happen every day,” concludes Catriona.  “According to the Department for Transport, five people are killed and more than 60 are injured on UK roads every day, and all of these contributory factors play their part whether it be speeding, drink-driving, driving while using a mobile phone or simply not paying attention or not being road-ready. 

“We can’t save lives by doing just one of these six steps; all drivers must have all of these in mind when getting behind the wheel. This time of year will naturally bring more collisions on our roads as the weather worsens and the festive season approaches.  Road Safety Week is vital in bringing these issues to the attention of road users, and that is why we support Road Safety Week each year, to help promote their message and hopefully save lives.”

To take the Make a Brake pledge, you can visit the Brake website here.  Alternatively, if you are looking for advice following a road traffic collision, you can contact Catriona or the Personal Injury team on 0800 91 92 30 or email injuryteam@warnergoodman.co.uk.

ENDS

This is for information purposes only and is no substitute for, and should not be interpreted as, legal advice.  All content was correct at the time of publishing and we cannot be held responsible for any changes that may invalidate this article.