Fleets urged to help make roads ‘safer for all’

Deaths and serious injuries on UK roads are on the rise, according to latest crash data analysed by Brake.

The road safety charity is calling on the fleet industry, and all employers, to help make ‘Safe Roads for All’, which is the theme of Road Safety Week, taking place this week (November 14-20). 

Many fleet organisations are already signed up to take part in the campaign, reaching tens of thousands of people who drive for work, but Brake is calling on all employers to have a board-level commitment to monitoring, reporting and improving road risk levels across their fleet and supply chains.

Brake is also calling on employers to ensure all at-work and commuting drivers have learned the new Highway Code and the priority it gives to people on bicycles and foot.

Analysis, by Brake, of 2021 British road crash data1 found that the rate of deaths and serious injuries of people on foot, by distance travelled, increased by 19% in 2021 compared to 2020.

Meanwhile, the rate of deaths and serious injuries for cyclists, by distance travelled, increased by 27% in 2021 compared to 2020. 

By comparison, there was a 2% increase across all road users and a 3% increase for car occupants.

The charity’s analysis also found that two in three of all deaths and serious injuries of people walking or cycling occurred on 30 mph limit roads. 

Out of 1,558 deaths nationally in 2021, 361 were people on foot and 111 were cyclists, while out of 25,892 serious injuries, 5,032 were people on foot and 4,353 were cyclists. 

In 2021, the Government did not report on ‘journey purpose’ of vehicles involved in collisions in Britain. However, it is known that out of 27,450 deaths and serious injuries on roads, 1,078 involved lorries, 2,932 involved vans, and 594 involved buses and minibuses.

Trevor Sterling, chair of the Major Trauma Group, said: “This year’s Road Safety Week offers a valuable opportunity to highlight the ongoing concerns around the safety of all road users, including the knowledge gap on the updated Highway Code. 

“Our own research has found that 58% of motorists do not think that road users are taught enough about cyclist and motorcyclist safety. This finding is particularly concerning given the updates to the Highway Code which recognise that motorcyclists and cyclists are among the most at risk. This awareness deficit threatens to contribute to an already unacceptable level of preventable incidents and injuries, as well as tragic fatalities, on our roads.

“As road casualties return to pre-pandemic levels, we urge all road users to consider steps they can take to protect themselves and others this Road Safety Week.”

Brake delivers the National Road Victim Service, caring for more than 1,000 road victim families a year, with a team of 20 professional caseworkers deployed across the UK to provide emotional and practical support and advocacy for families facing shock and horrendous tragedy, from the day of the crash that killed their loved one or caused catastrophic injury in their family.

It also operates the Global Fleet Champions initiative, delivering the UK Fleet Champions Awards annually to celebrate road safety at work, as well as learning resources and events taking place throughout the year.

Mary Williams, chief executive of Brake, said: "Brake's National Road Victim Service sees the devastation caused by road crashes and cares for the bereaved and injured families.

“Employers have an important responsibility to contribute to ending the carnage through occupational road risk management and can also help Brake with urgent funds we need to enable us to keep caring and campaigning.

“Both at a corporate and Government level, road risk management must include monitoring and reporting on the collision involvement of drivers and vehicles at work or commuting.”

Driver Hire supports Road Safety Week

Bradford-based national recruitment company, Driver Hire, is playing its part in preventing deaths and injuries on UK roads by supporting Road Safety Week.

Chris Chidley, Driver Hire’s chief executive, said: “As one of the leading suppliers of temporary drivers to the road transport and logistics industry we’ve around 4,000 drivers out on the road every day. Clearly, we want to ensure their safety and the safety of all other road-users, in particular the more vulnerable – pedestrians, cyclists, horse riders and motor cyclists. That’s why we’ve been a keen supporter of Road Safety Week for over 25 years.

“On Brake’s list to achieve safer roads for all is ensuring the safety of vehicles. So, this year we’re also reminding our drivers about the importance of completing a daily walk around check of their vehicle before starting a shift. It only takes five to ten minutes to do the basics, such as checking tyres, lights, mirrors and other items before setting off.

“To help, we’ve produced a ‘Daily Walk Around Check’ poster which covers all the key elements.

"Ensuring it’s done could be a vital element in keeping both drivers and all road-users safe, cutting the number of deaths and injuries on our roads.”