Employers urged to help drivers ‘tune in’ to road safety in national Road Safety Week

Road Safety Week, the UK’s biggest road safety event, will take place 18-24 November 2013 and will appeal to everyone to tune in to road safety and avoid distractions to help save lives. The charity Brake, which coordinates the Week, is encouraging employers to get the date in their diary now and get inspiration from the Road Safety Week website for life-saving ways to get involved.

Road Safety Week – now in its 17^th year – is supported by headline sponsors Specsavers and Romex. Focusing on the main theme of ‘tune in’, this year Brake will be working with partners around the UK to raise awareness of the importance of everyone giving the road their full attention – particularly at the wheel, but also when walking, cycling, skating, running, or anything else – to keep themselves and each other safe. Read more.

Road Safety Week is a great time for organisations to run awareness-raising activities to promote a road safety culture among staff, or launch policies and initiatives aimed at reducing crashes or promoting sustainable travel. It’s also a chance for organisations to engage the community in road safety as part of CSR activities, and publicise their commitment to safer roads. Read about 2012 organisation activities.

Organisations getting involved can focus their activities on any road safety topic, but Brake is particularly calling on employers to get behind the ‘tune in’ message, especially by urging drivers to switch off phones before driving and keep focused on the critical task at hand.

Organisations can access free resources and advice to help them take part by going to www.roadsafetyweek.org.uk, clicking on ‘organisations’ for initial ideas, and registering for a free e-action pack (sent from August). This includes downloadable posters, plus advice and case studies of how other organisations have taken part.

Brake is also urging organisations with staff who drive for work to make use of low-cost guidance from Brake’s Fleet Safety Forum the run up to the Week and year-round to develop effective fleet safety practices. Various Fleet Safety Forum events offer best practice advice between now and the Week. Joining the Forum means big event discounts plus regular guidance briefings, resources and news.

Brake deputy chief executive Julie Townsend says: “Last year hundreds of organisations got involved in Road Safety Week, running a range of activities to promote life-saving awareness among staff, customers and the community. We hope to see even more taking part this year, because organisations can make a big difference in promoting responsible road use and preventing terrible crashes and casualties. Plus organisations can really benefit from getting involved – by getting fleet safety and sustainable travel initiatives off to a flying start, educating employees on keeping safe, and gaining positive publicity.

“This year we’re particularly appealing to employers to help get the vital message out about tuning in to road safety and avoiding distractions at the wheel. The Road Safety Week website is full of ideas: log on to register for an e-action pack and start considering how you’ll get involved to help save lives.”

Paul Carroll, director of professional services at Specsavers, says: ‘Every year Road Safety Week is a great platform to bring attention to how vital it is to stay vigilant and focussed when on the road. For the past decade we’ve worked closely with Brake to raise awareness of the importance of regular sight tests and wearing correct prescription eyewear when driving.’