Road Safety Week reveals a drop in deaths and serious injuries across the East of England in 2020
Researchers say it is because of the coronavirus lockdowns
Last updated 15th Nov 2021
As part of Road Safety Week – research shows there’s been a drop of a fifth in deaths and serious injuries on roads in 2020 – mainly due to lockdowns.
An analysis of Government statistics by road safety charity Brake indicates road deaths and serious injuries declined across the East of England by 591 people or 24 per cent last year compared with 2019 – the fourth largest reduction, in terms of percentage, nationally.
There were, however, across the country still 1,460 deaths and more than 22,000 serious injuries on roads in 2020,
As traffic levels rise again, Road Safety Week is celebrating the work of road safety heroes across the country who are working to tackle deaths and serious injuries and turn the one-year drop into a downward trend, including Government plans for a new road safety strategyv; local authorities building cycle paths; companies working to ensure they use vehicles safely; and communities working for changes where they live, such as 20mph speed limits.
This year’s campaign also celebrates the invaluable efforts of the emergency services, including those who police the roads and save lives, at the roadside and in hospitals, and the work of the National Road Victim Service, caring for the emotional and practical needs of road victim families, as well as community services including mental health services and disability and peer support charities.
Brake, which co-ordinates the annual campaign, is calling for individuals, communities and organisations to share stories of their own road safety heroes – through social media, in schools, in company team meetings or special events.
Jason Wakeford, Head of Campaigns at Brake, said:
“Road Safety Week is the UK’s biggest annual road safety campaign and is a great opportunity to speak up for road safety. This year everyone can acknowledge and celebrate the heroic efforts of people working to save lives on roads across the country - and recognise that we can all be road safety heroes by using roads safely and taking actions for road safety in our families, schools, communities and where we work.
“We would urge everyone to visit the Road Safety Week website for loads of ways to take part in the campaign all this week.”
Ailsa Firth, HR Director and CSR Community sponsor at Arval UK, said:
“Within the fleet industry there is a reliance on support from so many of the emergency services, professionals and unsung heroes out there who help to keep people safe on their journeys.
“We cannot think of a better way to celebrate and recognise those heroes, by making them central to Road Safety Week 2021 and highlighting the great work they are doing in communities and organisations across the country.”
Jon Furmston, Openreach Director for Assurance and Governance, said:
“Making sure that everyone gets home safe every day is paramount to everything we do at Openreach. Reducing road risk is key to that and we strive to do everything we can to keep our drivers, other road users and members of the public safe when we’re out in our vehicles keeping the UK connected.
“We’re delighted to be supporting Road Safety Week 2021 as it’s such an important issue and look forward to celebrating all the fantastic people who are working to make our roads safer for everyone.”
How to get involved in Road Safety Week 2021 :
Brake has highlighted a theme for each day of Road Safety Week to focus celebrations on the many different groups of road safety heroes:
Road Safety Week 2021 – daily themes
Monday 15 November- Road safety campaigners and charities
Tuesday 16 November- Children, families, youth and schools
Wednesday 17 November - Road safety professionals
Thursday 18 November- Emergency services and road victim services
Friday 19 November- Fleets, businesses and employers
Saturday 20 November- Sustainability heroes
Sunday 21 November -Marking the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims 2021
Brake has also published a comprehensive PR and social media toolkit with numerous ideas for activity in Road Safety Week, including ways to share stories of road safety heroes – internally, externally, or both – during the week itself, including:
• Record and share a video on social media about who your heroes are, and how they keep roads safe
• Tweet their name and role, and tag them in social media posts
• Send an image of the person, with some text about why they’re a hero, to news@brake.org.uk for inclusion in a Road Safety Week Hall of Fame
• Nominate a road safety hero to feature in the heroes Hall of Fame on the Brake website
• Publish a blog, or send one to appear on the Road Safety Week website, about the role your road safety hero and/or your organisation plays in promoting safe travel
• Celebrate your organisation’s road safety heroes in a team meeting or on your Intranet
• Join us on Friday 19 November, for a Road Safe-Tee Day. Get your team to dig out their brightest t-shirts for the day, and share a photo, to remind drivers to look out for people who walk and cycle, who are some of the most vulnerable road users
• Fundraise for Brake – run a Road Safe-Tea Day and share a cuppa or hold a bake sale with your team.