Driver Hire is lending its support to Road Safety Week (18-24 November) for the 20th year running as it looks to raise awareness of road safety issues.
Organised by Brake, this year’s Road Safety Week bears the theme of ‘Step up for safe streets’, and highlights the need for new thinking on how we all get around and encourage an increase in walking and cycling under an active mobility focus.
Commenting on the initiative, Chris Chidley, chief executive of Driver Hire, said: “We know the solutions are there. We just need policymakers to step-up and prioritise safe ways to make local journeys on foot or by bike.
“Getting more people walking or on two wheels helps the environment. It reduces congestion, makes our streets safer and life easier for those who need to drive, such as the hard-pressed delivery drivers we all rely on and are frequently working to tight deadlines. Of course, it’s important for all road-users to look out for each other, walkers, cyclists, bikers and, of course, other drivers, not just during Road Safety Week, but 365 days a year.”
As part of the Road Safety Week campaign, staff at Driver Hire’s Bradford Head Office have all been asked to complete a ‘Safer Streets’ survey to ascertain their views on how their local streets can be made safer for all – this includes a call for more focus on pedestrian safety.
Thirteen year-old Dan Naylor from Wyke was knocked over on a local street whilst out playing with his friends. He sustained a broken arm and a broken collarbone in the incident. “I looked but I didn’t see the vehicle,” said Dan. “Afterwards I suffered from shock and it really knocked my confidence crossing roads. I think there should be more safe crossing points for pedestrians.”
Dan added: “Motorists can be a bit impatient sometimes, so more bike lanes would make streets safer for cyclists.”
