Brake appeals to companies to spread Road Safety Week message

National road safety charity Brake is appealing to companies to register now for Road Safety Week 2011 to help spread life-saving road safety awareness on UK roads. The week will run from 21-27 November. Brake campaigns director Julie Townsend says: “Companies can play a crucial role in spreading road safety awareness and helping to prevent needless tragedies on our roads.

“Road Safety Week is an ideal opportunity for companies to get involved in a national event and raise awareness of vital road safety issues with their staff, customers, business contacts and the wider community. Brake really values the involvement of companies and we’re urging them to register online now to get free guidance and resources.”

The national event involves thousands of organisations, schools and communities each year. Brake coordinates the proceedings with support from QBE insurance and courier company FedEx. Its 2011 theme is “Too Young to Die”, highlighting the frequency of the involvement of young drivers in fatal accidents, figures acquired in 2010 death registrations in England and Wales; 21 per cent of all deaths aged 15-24 and 38 per cent of all non-medical deaths were due to road accidents.

Companies can register now to access free advice and resources to help them get involved at roadsafetyweek.org.uk. The free “e-action pack” includes downloadable posters, activity ideas, and a factsheet on the theme.

Brake says companies can play a vital role in reducing devastating crashes and casualties and making roads safer for everyone. It wants to make this year’s Road Safety Week the biggest yet, coinciding with the first year of the global UN Decade of Action for Road Safety. Brake suggests that companies can raise awareness of road safety among staff, customers and the wider community, and gain publicity by linking to this flagship national event. It is particularly urging companies with staff who drive for work to get involved and use Road Safety Week to educate staff on safe and responsible driving. Brake is running “low-cost training” on delivering the messages from Brake’s Pledge2DriveSafely. For details go to www.fleetsafetyforum.org and click on ‘Events’.