Bright Days for British Summer Time

Organisations urged to go bright for Brake as British Summer Time begins

Being bright, safe and seen is not just for dark, winter nights. As British Summer Time begins, employers, community groups, and other organisations are being encouraged to run a Bright Day in support of safer roads, as part of an initiative by Brake, the road safety charity, and partner Autoglass®.

Bright Days aim to remind drivers to slow down and watch out for pedestrians and cyclists, particularly around homes and schools. The call comes as Brake and British cycling today (28 March) published a survey of 1,000 cyclists revealing that nine in 10 (88%) think traffic is too fast on roads in their area and an overwhelming 98% said more should be done to make local streets safer for cyclists and pedestrians.

 The survey also revealed:

• Safer roads would encourage people to cycle more: 46% would cycle more local journeys, 44% would cycle more for leisure or exercise and 40% would cycle more to work, given safer local routes
• Seven in 10 (68%) say widespread 20mph limits are needed in their area to make cycling and walking safer.

When asked in 2012, nearly two thirds (65%) of British Cycling members said reducing residential speed limits to 20mph would reduce injuries to cyclists.

Brake and British Cycling today said that introducing 20mph limits in towns and cities alongside improvements to existing road design would help produce more safe cycling routes to deliver a legacy of healthy, active, green communities where everyone can cycle and walk without being endangered. They are also calling on drivers everywhere to do their bit to make roads safer, by slowing down, giving space to cyclists and looking out for people on bike and foot.

Brake and British Cycling are part of GO 20, a coalition of 11 charities and organisations calling for: more local authorities to implement 20mph limits across towns, cities and villages; the government to work towards 20mph being the norm in all our communities; and drivers to pledge to GO 20 around homes, schools and shops.

Since November 2012 when the GO 20 campaign launched, significant progress has been made for GO 20 across the UK. The UK government and Welsh Assembly both recently moved to encourage more 20mph limits in England and Wales, especially where lots of people do or might walk or cycle. Transport for London also recently announced a raft of safe cycling measures in London. Read Brake's reaction to the Department for Transport, Welsh Assembly, and TfL announcements. On a Bright Day, people wear bright and high-visibility clothing and raise money for Brake. Brake offers guidance on promoting road safety messages as part of the event, and can promote Bright Days to local media to raise awareness about road safety in the wider community. Last year hundreds of organisations, schools and community groups across the UK ran a Bright Day and together raised more than £17,000 for Brake.