Road Safety Week 2025: Safe Vehicles Save Lives
Today marks the start of Road Safety Week, the UK’s biggest annual road safety campaign organised by the charity Brake.
In 2024, 1,602 people were killed on British roads and 29,467 were killed or seriously injured. That’s why campaigns like this one are still so important for raising road safety awareness.
This year’s campaign will run from 16-22 November, with the theme ‘safe vehicles save lives’. The aim is to help people understand the importance of regular vehicle safety checks, and how these should be carried out.
We spoke to our Head of Legal Services Jacqueline Busby about this year’s campaign:
“This year’s Road Safety Week theme is a vital reminder that preventing accidents isn’t just about driving safely, it’s also about ensuring our vehicles are as safe as possible.
“Modern safety technologies and regular vehicle maintenance can often make the difference between a near miss and a serious injury.
“Campaigns like this one raise awareness of the simple steps everyone can take to help save lives on our roads.”
Why is the focus on safe vehicles?
Safe vehicles not only protect the people inside them, but also pedestrians, cyclists and other road users.
Brake wants to spread awareness of what is meant by ‘safe vehicles’, and why they’re so vital for reducing road deaths and injuries.
Technology
When talking about what makes a vehicle safe, Brake points to technological developments, including:
- Automatic emergency braking
- Lane-keeping assist
- Speed limiters
- Seatbelt reminders
The charity has argued that widespread adoption of proven safety features could make a crucial difference as part of a ‘safe systems approach’ to road safety.
Maintenance
Vehicle safety also involves regular maintenance and safety checks. Drivers should do a ‘walk-round’ check of their vehicle once a week or before any long journeys, according to Brake.
The charity has set out a handy checklist for making sure your vehicle is roadworthy:
- F – Fuel
Do you have enough for your journey? - L – Lights
Check headlights, brake lights and indicators are working. - O – Oil
Check oil levels when the engine is cold. - W – Water
Check lubricants, coolants and washer fluid. - E – Electrics
Make sure the battery is present and secure. - R – Rubber
Measure tyre pressure and check for any damage.
It’s also important that drivers make use of safety features. Vehicle safety technology is only effective when drivers take the time to familiarise themselves with it and keep it activated.
How you can take part in Road Safety Week
Everyone can play a role in Road Safety Week. Here’s how:
- Check your vehicle
Make sure your vehicle is safe before you travel by following Brake’s FLOWER checklist. - Learn about safety features
Familiarise yourself with the safety features on your vehicle. These will only be effective if you know how to activate and maintain them. - Share the message
Use the hashtag #RoadSafetyWeek on social media and spread the word with friends, family and colleagues.
If you employ people who drive for work, review your driver and vehicle safety policies and make sure vehicles are regularly checked.
Schools can also get involved by running activities or lessons using Brake’s free educational resources, helping young people understand the importance of vehicle safety.
Charities like Brake are doing all they can to prevent road accidents but as they point out, there has been no significant reduction in the number of collisions for more than a decade.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a road traffic accident, we could help you.
To learn more, get in touch with our team for a free initial chat. You can call us on the number at the top of the screen or fill in our quick and easy form.
