Brake News

Campaigning News: Road safety management capacity review Last month the government published the Road Safety Management Capacity Review, commissioned by the Department for Transport as part of the 2015 Road Safety Statement, as a means of understanding the current status of delivery of road safety in Britain. The report concludes that “the absence of a national road safety performance framework is impeding progress” – a position that Brake firmly supports. Progress on road safety has stalled in recent years and Brake is calling on the government to implement national road safety targets to reduce road deaths and serious injuries. The review also made a number of key recommendations, such as lowering the drink-drive limit and reviewing speed limits. We will be urging the government to implement the recommendations of the review. Learn more: Visit the Brake website. Event: Young driver round table in Parliament  Brake’s campaigns team attended a very interesting round table on young drivers, one of our key campaign focuses for the year, in Parliament earlier this month. There was a positive discussion about formulating a workable cross-party proposal on how to introduce Graduated Driving Licensing to the UK. The round table was hosted by Jenny Chapman MP (Darlington), and attended by representatives from other road safety organisations and the insurance industry. Watch this space for further developments.   Policy: Brake's Smart Roads report This month Brake published the findings from a survey on driver attitudes to safety on motorways and major A roads, delivered in conjunction with Direct Line. The survey found that drivers are deeply concerned about the amount of freight being transported on our motorways and that this is making them fearful for their safety. Brake used the findings and press release to urge the government and Highways England to prioritise safety over capacity in the upcoming Road Investment Strategy 2 – Highways England’s long-term (2020 to 2025) investment programme for motorways and A roads. Learn more: Read the full story and find the report here. Community engagement Event: Road Safety Week 2018 19–25 November 2018 Bike Smart is the message at the heart of this year’s Road Safety Week. Those on two wheels are among the most vulnerable road users in the UK: more than a third of people killed or seriously injured on UK roads are bicycle or motorcycle riders. Brake’s week-long campaign will raise awareness about the importance of implementing a safe systems approach, mandating life-saving technology and prioritising cycle-friendly infrastructure, as well as promoting safe driving and riding behaviours. Registered events will be recorded on our interactive map. Calling all bloggers: We are looking for bloggers to write about their local road safety week events. If you’re interested please get in touch by emailing roadsafetyweek@brake.org.uk! To register: Click here to sign up for Road Safety Week 2018. Fundraising Event: London to Brighton cycle ride Sunday 16 September 2018 Join fellow cyclists for a truly iconic day out as you face the challenge of a 54-mile ride from London to Brighton. Brake is enormously proud to have been chosen as the Charity of the Year for this year’s event, and we urge you to help us raise funds for our dedicated work preventing road death and injury on the road. It costs £50 to register for the event, and we ask that participants aim to raise £100+ in sponsorship. To register: Click here for more information and to sign up, or call Lisa on 01484 683294 or email fundraise@brake.org.uk.   Event: Brake’s Virtual Run is BACK for summer 2018! This year we are calling for participants to collectively run or walk 1753km to help raise vital funds in memory of the 1,753 people who are killed, on average, on Britain's roads each year. This is your opportunity to be a part of an amazing experience and help raise money to enable Brake to support people bereaved in road crashes and campaign for safer roads. It costs just £5 to register, which includes a fundraising pack, sponsor forms and your Virtual Run 2018 t-shirt. Register here: Click here for more information and to register. Corporate fundraising Event: Road Safety Superheroes! Team up with our Pledge Squad, and dress up as your favourite superhero, to help spread the message of safe driving across the globe. Our Road Safety Superhero days are a simple and fun way to raise funds for Brake. Get together with your friends, your classmates or your office and encourage everyone to dress up as their favourite superhero. Whether you put on a character t-shirt or a full costume, with your support, we can help create a world of zero deaths or serious injuries on our roads. Join us: Visit our website to get involved.