CWU and Royal Mail join forces to mark Road Safety Week: 19-25 November 2018
Health & Safety November 14 2018This National Brake Road Safety Week (19-25 November) is aimed at raising awareness of the safety of those on two wheels and encouraging everyone to be “Bike Smart”.
Cyclists and motorcyclists are among the most vulnerable road users in the UK, with more than 100 riders injured every day in needless, preventable collisions.
The UK National, Annual Road Safety week is an initiative created and co-ordinated annually by “BRAKE” the Road Safety Charity, supporting and encouraging organisations, employers, fleet operators and Trade Unions such as Royal Mail and the C
WU to raise road safety awareness and prevent casualties year-round.. “THINK” the UK government’s designated road safety campaign now
jointly supports the National Road Safety Week.
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer Dave Joyce said “Every 30 seconds someone somewhere in the world is killed in a road crash. The misery of road death and injuries caused by vehicles is a shameful epidemic that we should all try to reduce. The theme this year is ‘Bike Smart’and in the UK there are 400 motorcyclists and cyclists killed, 8,500 seriously injured and there are 3
8,000 casualties every year. Also the HSE estimate that a third of all road traffic accidents involve someone who is at work. The campaign is a
ll about improving road safety and this year focusing on those on two wheels. Royal Mail Group, working with the CWU and with “BRAKE”, “THINK”, RoSPA”, “Road Peace” will be focusing on jointly supporting the National Road Safety Week, raising awareness about vulnerable road users, cyclists and motorcyclists and promoting some key driving advice and tips”.
Royal Mail Drivers have a responsibility to drive safely and minimise risk to themselves and the public. As part of business-wide focus on road safety, a series of Road Safety messages will be communicated to CWU member drivers under the “Bike Smart” initiative.
The ‘BRAKE’ & ‘THINK’ ‘Bike Smart’ Campaign Aims To Get ALL Drivers to make roads safer for people on bicycles and motorbikes by:-.
- Taking time to look properly before pulling out at junctions.
- Always stopping behind the lines at a junction.
- Leaving plenty of room when overtaking or passing bikes.
- Slowing down on rural roads.
- Driving slowly in places where people live.
- Avoiding ‘dooring’ or hitting bikes with your vehicle door when getting out.
- Be vigilant in the Hours of Darkness – Not all cyclists display lights or wear high viz!
Roads Safety Week is the beginning of a campaign to reduce accidents, injuries, deaths and suffering as well as reduce business costs through implementing road risk management programme of effective policies and procedures. Investing in fleet risk management, improved driving standards and awareness raising therefore makes sound moral and financial sense for all organisations with staff who drive for work.
The CWU Health, Safety & Environment Department has been actively supporting the Road Safety Week campaign annually since 2003 and is pleased to be involved again.