Speeding targeted in Brake’s annual Road Safety Week

The road safety charity Brake has revealed that the theme of this year’s Road Safety Week, will be ‘Let’s talk about speed’.

Taking place between November 19 and 25, this year’s campaign aims to bring communities and professionals together to talk about speed.

The 2023 campaign will talk about why speeding is thought of as acceptable in some situations, what happens when drivers speed and why reducing speed saves lives.

The theme was set following discussions with representatives from community groups, the police, Government, businesses, educators and other charities.

Ross Moorlock, interim CEO at Brake, said: “Every time we driver faster than the speed limit, or too fast for the road conditions, we increase the risk of a crash – and we increase the chance that someone will be killed or hurt on the road. The faster you go, the longer the stopping distance and the harder you will hit something.

“Whoever you are, and however you travel – this year we are challenging everyone to start talking about speed with your friends, families and colleagues.”

This year’s campaign will see a day for each group connected with Road Safety Week.

The week will start with a focus on road crash victims, including commemorating the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims, with a fleet focus on Fleet Friday (November 24).

The Road Safety Week campaign is supported by funding from headline sponsors Arval UK and DHL.

Ian Pearson, head of driver safety and Insurance at Arval UK, said: “Sadly, police recorded that travelling too fast or exceeding the speed limit was a contributory factor in 25% of deaths, where an officer attended the scene of a collision – travelling slower may have reduced that terrible figure.

“To shape better driving decisions, we’d encourage organisations to sign up to support Road Safety Week in 2023.

“We believe this year’s focus will help make millions of people think before speeding and raise awareness to the impact it can have on the lives of others.”

Gavin Murdoch, managing director, of Network Transport Solutions UKI at DHL Supply Chain, added: “Our Safety First culture strives not only to keep our colleagues safe on the roads, but also pedestrians and other vulnerable road users.

“The focus for this year’s theme is very important to us in ensuring our professional drivers and colleagues remain safe on the roads. 

“Continuing education of the impacts of speeding on our roads will be encouraged further during Road Safety Week in support of Brakes vital road safety work.”

Sign up to Road Safety Week 2023 by visiting www.brake.org.uk/road-safety-week.