South Ashford Community Forum (SACF) is taking part in this year’s Road Safety Week (23-29 November), as part of a national campaign coordinated by Brake, the road safety charity, encouraging people to drive less, live more and make our streets safer, more pleasant places.
SACF is joining thousands of other organisations, schools and community groups across the UK promoting life-saving messages as part of Road Safety Week, the UK’s biggest road safety event.
The Road Safety Week 2015 theme, drive less, live more, is about making our streets safer, more pleasant places by encouraging people to drive less, as little as possible, or not at all if they can. The campaign asks everyone to consider how they use roads, and see if they can reduce car journeys by walking, cycling or using public transport instead.
In 2014, five people were killed and over 60 were seriously injured every day on UK roads. Two-thirds (63%) of trips are made by car, including four in 10 (40%) trips of less than two miles. Road Safety Week is an opportunity for everyone to spread vital road safety messages, including the ‘drive less, live more’ campaign, to help reduce that toll to zero and ensure everyone can get around without fear or threat.
As part of the campaign, Brake will be revealing newly commissioned research on people’s views on driving less, and local statistics showing the benefits of driving less.
Julie Townsend, deputy chief executive, Brake, said: “We’re delighted SACF is doing its bit to make our roads safer by getting involved with Road Safety Week and helping to spread the ‘drive less, live more’ message. Local support for the road safety cause is vital if we are to achieve our goal of putting an end to road deaths and injuries, and enabling everyone to get around without fear or threat. We can go a long way to achieving this if we all commit to reducing traffic on our roads. We are asking everyone to consider whether their journey – to school, to work, to the shops, to visit friends or family – can be made on foot, bicycle or by using public transport instead. Driving less reduces congestion, pollution, and traffic danger, making our streets safer and more pleasant places, plus it can make you fitter, healthier and happier.”