Belfast Harbour Police is stepping up for safe streets this UK Road Safety Week

Belfast Harbour Police is stepping up for safe streets this UK Road Safety Week

Belfast Harbour Police is taking part in the UK’s biggest road safety event, Road Safety Week (18-24 November), coordinated by Brake, the road safety charity, and sponsored by Specsavers and Kwik Fit.

This year, thousands of organisations, schools and community groups are being encouraged to step up for safe streets by learning about the design-led solutions which can eliminate death and serious injury from the roads.

As part of the campaign, Belfast Harbour Police will be promoting Vehicle and Road Safety within the Belfast Harbour Estate at various locations. This will include road safety information stands at local businesses, road safety activities on the roads and cycle ways within the Belfast Harbour road network.

Every 20 minutes, someone is killed or seriously injured on a British road. Each of these tragedies has a devastating effect on families and local communities. This year’s Road Safety Week theme, ‘step up for safe streets’, is focusing on the safe systems approach. These are design-led solutions that can prevent tragedies and make local roads safer.

They include 20mph limits in urban areas, the use of vehicle technology which prevents vehicles from speeding, segregated cycle paths and graduated driver licensing.

Brake is urging everyone to ‘step up’ by leaving the car at home to help improve safety and air quality. The charity is also encouraging people to pledge to be a safe driver – always keeping within speed limits and never drinking or taking drugs and driving.

Anyone can get involved by taking part in Brake’s national survey about the safety of the streets where you live. Brake will share the findings from the survey with local authorities to help them understand the views of the people who live, work and play on their streets. This is available from via www.roadsafetyweek.org.uk/survey 

Dave Nichols, community engagement manager for Brake, said:

“We’re delighted Belfast Harbour Police are getting involved with Road Safety Week and stepping up for safe streets. Nobody should be killed or seriously injured on our roads. We already know the many solutions that can prevent these tragedies and allow us all to get around in safe and healthy ways. It’s vital everyone gets involved with learning about, shouting about and celebrating these solutions. Whether though campaigning for safer roads or choosing to use roads as safely as possible. Together we can make roads safer for everyone.”