Tuning into Road Safety – Road Safety Week 18th-24th November 2013

6th November 2013

The road safety charity Brake is calling for communities and organisations around the UK to participate in their annual Road Safety Week, and is asking businesses to encourage their employees to drive more safely. Running from 18th-24th November, the event highlights a range of road safety measures, with this year’s focus being the theme of ‘tuning in’ to road safety and avoiding distractions. With driver distraction being a major cause of death and serious injury in the UK, Brake will be appealing to drivers to turn off their phones and avoid multi-tasking at the wheel.

Up to a third of all road traffic accidents involve somebody who is at work at the time, according to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) estimates. Organisations can take positive steps to reduce the risks associated with driving at work, for example by drawing up a policy including measures for staff using their own cars for work purposes.

Road Safety Week also highlights that distraction is not just limited to drivers; pedestrians and cyclists can also be sidetracked by talking on their mobiles and listening to music, preventing them from giving their full care and attention when negotiating roads.

Traffic accidents also occur on business premises, where motorists and pedestrians circulate in close proximity. Areas such as service yards or loading bays, where reversing lorries or fork lift trucks count as additional hazards, present greater risks. To help minimise accidents and ensure health and safety legal compliance, organisations commission traffic management audits on their sites.

For assistance on undertaking Traffic Management Assessments and Audits, please contact our specialist team.

For more information about Road Safety Week, click here.