Scottish Water have announced their support for Road Safety Week 2019, and have joined Kwik-Fit and Specsavers to promote road charity Brake's 'Stepping Up for Safe Streets' drive.

The firm is supporting road safety charity Brake's Road Safety Week highlighting campaigners who are 'Stepping Up for Safe Streets'.

The latest research from Brake shows, on average, 34 people are killed or seriously injured every week on Scotland's roads.

In 2018, 161 people were killed and 1,582 were seriously injured – with an 11% increase in road crash deaths on the previous year.

The UK wide survey of 2,000 adults also highlighted that nearly a third of adults were in a collision or had a near miss with a vehicle on our roads in the past year.

Road safety campaigners believe these incidents mean people think the streets aren't safe or welcoming and hold them back from walking or cycling – modes of transport which can reduce the danger for others.

-- Advertisement --

Brake is sharing inspiring stories from campaigners who are working to reduce road danger and offering advice on how we can all step up in our daily lives to improve road safety.

Choosing to leave the car at home, pledging to be a safe driver, observing speed limits and never driving under the influence of drink or drugs, can all have a positive impact.

Schoolchildren, community groups and employees across the country will be taking part in learning and events over the week.

Scots are being urged to get involved by completing Brake's survey on safety of the streets and the findings will be shared with local authorities. You can take part at roadsafetyweek.org.uk/survey.

Scottish Water are working with Brake to promote road safety to our 4,000+ staff, five million customers and the wider public as part of our commitment to care for the environment, with a series of events at our major sites across the country. Kwik-Fit is offering free vehicle safety checks and Specsavers have a virtual reality driving experience to highlight the importance of good eyesight for driving.

Joshua Harris, director of campaigns for Brake, the road safety charity, said: "These findings paint an alarming picture of the danger on Scotland's roads and yet it's what we're all exposed to, every day, when getting about.

"We shouldn't have to accept this level of risk as part of our daily lives and so we are calling on everyone to "Step Up" for Road Safety Week and shout out for the solutions that we know can make our roads safe."

Sandy Duff, driver safety manager for Scottish Water, said: "We operate a large fleet across the whole of Scotland and we are committed to road safety. We are delighted to be supporting Road Safety Week and want everyone to get involved and do their bit."

(MH/JG)