LTB 973/11 - Road Safety Week 21 - 27 November

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Letter to Branches




No. 973/11
Ref V6
Date: 17 November 2011

To: All Branches,

Dear Colleagues,

Road Safety Week 21 - 27 November - Support The campaign in five simple steps

Individuals, organisations and companies across the UK are preparing to get involved in Road Safety Week, helping to spread life-saving road safety awareness and education. Road Safety Week is an established week in the UK calendar. It was set up by the road safety charity 'Brake' in 1997 and is organised and is promoted by the charity annually ever since. It takes place in November each year and aims to give everyone an opportunity to promote road safety in their community, school or company. Road Safety Week highlights the appalling carnage on roads and what we can all do to stop it. Everyone can get involved and you can do as little or as much as you like, depending on your time and resources. So over to you! To find out more about Brake's work, go to: http://www.brakecharity.org" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; To find out more and take part, go to the 'Brake' information-site http://www.roadsafetyweek.org.uk" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
'Brake' are inviting everyone to Join them in working towards safer roads for everyone through these five quick and easy steps.

1. Have a heart – make the Pledge

Through Road Safety Week Brake is appealing to drivers to ‘have a heart’ – and commit to being compassionate and responsible at the wheel. Brake’s Pledge is a set of simple steps all drivers and passengers can follow to help keep themselves and others safe. Make the Pledge and encourage everyone you know to too! Individuals can make a pledge on the 'Brake' Website.

2. Show your support – at the click of a button

Help spread the word about how important road safety is via social networking sites:
Like Brake on Facebook – and messages on our the 'Brake' wall – to spread the word to friends
Add a RSW twibbon to your Facebook or Twitter profile to show your support for the cause
Follow Brake on Twitter, and re-tweet RSW messages
Share photos and info about your Road Safety Week activities on Facebook, Flickr, blogs and Twitter using #roadsafetyweek

3. Call for action – drop your MP a line

This Road Safety Week, 'Brake' is calling for government action to help inexperienced drivers to be safer. Road crashes are the biggest killer of young people, ending lives too soon and devastating families. 'Brake' say that studies show if the government introduced ‘graduated driver licensing’, with a minimum learning period and licence restrictions for novices, it would prevent hundreds of deaths and thousands of injuries each year. 'Brake' are appealing for help to make this happen!  Young drivers are involved in a huge proportion of road casualties, due to a combination of inexperience and a tendency of many young people to take risks. One in eight licence holders in Britain is under 25, yet one in four fatal and serious injury crashes involves a driver in this age group. 'Brake' state that evidence suggests that reforming the system of training and testing drivers would make a huge difference in preventing needless casualties, particularly among young people themselves. 'Brake' wants ‘graduated driver licensing’, to allow new drivers to build up driving skills and experience over time, while limiting exposure to risky situations. They say this should include a 12-month learner period, an initial test, then a two-year novice period (when you can drive independently but with restrictions, such as a late-night driving ban), followed by a final test. 'Brake' also want compulsory curriculum education on the dangers of driving. 'Brake' are asking people to write to their MP stating their support for theseproposals.

4. Spread the word – using our powerful posters

'Brake' have published a number of downloadable Road Safety Week Posters to display in the workplace or community or include in newsletters or on websites. There are designs aimed at children, young people, drivers and parents, all with powerful road safety messages. (copies attached).

5. Give to Brake –Road Safety Week Appeal

During Road Safety Week, 'Brake' is appealing for donations in support of their year-round work campaigning for safer roads, and providing vital support to bereaved and injured families. Just £5 makes a difference to their work and is hugely appreciated. Donate in seconds on your mobile – just text RSW99 followed by the amount in pounds to 70070 or donate on line via the 'Brake'

Website: http://www.brake.org.uk/donate/donate-online.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Thanks to everyone helping to make Road Safety Week a life-saver.

'Brake' main Website - go to: http://www.brakecharity.org" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
'Brake' Road Safety Week Website - go to: http://www.roadsafetyweek.org.uk" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


Yours Sincerely


Dave Joyce
CWU National Health, Safety & Environment Officer