Employers, especially those with staff who drive for work, are being urged to register now to be part of Road Safety Week (November 23-29).

The charity Brake, which coordinates the event, is encouraging organisations to go to www.roadsafetyweek.org.uk for ideas on using the event to promote safe and sustainable road use to staff and the wider community, and register for a free e-action pack.

Road Safety Week, now in its 19th year, is coordinated with the support of headline sponsor Specsavers and the Department for Transport. It’s a great time to for employers to develop and promote safe and sustainable travel internally and engage the community to raise awareness. Read what companies did in 2014 here.

The Road Safety Week 2015 theme is ‘drive less live more’. Brake will be encouraging drivers, families and whole companies and communities to consider how they travel, and if they can ditch some vehicle mileage, and instead walk, cycle or use public transport as much as possible. Employers can help promote this theme to staff, customers and contacts, and/or address other road safety issues important to them. You could: set up a scheme encouraging active and sustainable commuting and run a car free day for staff; organise a sponsored run or bike ride and analyse ‘at-work’ mileage to see if journeys can be reduced or better planned to improve efficiency. Read more.

Employers can access free electronic resources and guidance from www.roadsafetyweek.org.uk/organisations. Employers can register online now to receive updates and start planning now, and will receive an action pack in September.

Julie Townsend, Brake deputy chief executive, said: “Road safety isn’t just about safe driving and using the green cross code. It’s about making our streets safe and pleasant for everyone to use freely, and doing what we can to protect ourselves, people around us and the environment. A big part of that is driving less if we can, and this can make a huge difference to health and wellbeing, communities and the planet. That’s why this Road Safety Week, we’re encouraging everyone – including companies – to consider how they travel, and if possible ditch some vehicle mileage, and walk, cycle or use public transport instead.

“Employers can be pivotal in getting this vital message out to drivers and families – and stand to gain from encouraging staff to travel for work and commute via sustainable and active means as much as possible. Hundreds of companies get involved in Road Safety Week every year, by running communications, staff and customer engagement, fundraisers and awareness campaigns. See roadsafetyweek.org.uk for ideas, and to register for a free pack to help you take part.”

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