Road Safety Week 2025 - Helping You Stay Safe On The Roads
At Bartlett Automotive, safety isn’t just about following regulations. It’s about looking after those who trust us with their vehicles. From daily commutes to weekend trips, we know how much our customers rely on their cars to get where they need to be, safely.
Every year, more than 1,700 people are killed on UK roads, and over 30,000 sustain serious injuries. Globally, the numbers are even more sobering. Road Safety Week is a reminder that the way we maintain, drive, and design vehicles matters. In this guide, we’ll walk through the 2025 campaign theme, the technologies that are making a difference, and the steps we can all take to help prevent avoidable collisions.
What Is Road Safety Week?
Road Safety Week 2025 runs from 16 to 22 November. It’s coordinated by the road safety charity Brake, with support from Autoglass, Hastings Direct, Motive and Samsara. The week launches on the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims. It offers space to reflect on the real cost of crashes, not just in numbers, but in lives changed forever.
This Year’s Theme: Safe Vehicles Save Lives
The 2025 theme focuses on vehicle safety. The campaign aims to raise awareness of:
- The role of vehicle design in preventing crashes
- How safer vehicles can reduce the severity of injuries
- Keeping vehicles properly maintained and roadworthy
- The push for life-saving technologies to become standard in all new UK vehicles
Why It Matters More Than Ever
Despite advances in awareness and infrastructure, the number of people dying on UK roads has remained worryingly consistent for over ten years. We’re not seeing the progress we should be. A major part of the solution lies in safer vehicles.
This fits into the broader “Safe System” approach. It’s a strategy that recognises people will make mistakes, and works to reduce the chance that those mistakes will lead to fatal or serious consequences.
Life-Saving Vehicle Technologies
Modern vehicles are increasingly equipped with technologies designed to prevent crashes or protect occupants if one happens. Some of the most effective include:
Crash Prevention
- Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB): Detects a potential collision and applies the brakes automatically. It can reduce the severity of a crash or prevent it entirely.
- Intelligent Speed Assistance (ISA): Helps keep vehicles within the speed limit by warning drivers or limiting speed. It only works if it’s switched on, but many drivers are unaware they’ve disabled it.
- Lane Keeping Assist: Gently steers the vehicle back into its lane if it begins to drift. This helps to avoid side-swipe collisions and lane departures.
- Adaptive Cruise Control: Maintains a safe distance from the vehicle ahead by adjusting your speed automatically.
Post-Crash Protection
- Event Data Recorders: Capture information before and during a crash and can alert emergency services to speed up response times.
- Advanced Airbag Systems: Today’s vehicles use multiple airbags placed around the cabin to provide protection from different angles.
Useful Vehicle Safety Products
Beyond built-in features, there are additional safety products worth considering.
- Dash Cameras
Dash cams offer valuable footage if a crash occurs. Look for:
- Full HD (1080p or higher resolution)
- Reliable low-light performance
- GPS tracking
- Wide-angle lens
- Child Car Seats
To protect young passengers, ensure seats:
- Meet UK R129/i-Size standards
- Are suited to your child’s height and weight
- Are fitted correctly (ask for a professional fitting if unsure)
- Emergency Kits
A properly stocked emergency kit should include:
- First aid supplies
- Jumper cables
- Hi-vis vest
- Warning triangle
- Torch and spare batteries
- Basic tools
- Emergency contact details
- High-Visibility Clothing
If you ever need to exit your vehicle in a breakdown or emergency, visibility matters. Reputable brands such as 3M and Portwest offer excellent options.
Keeping Your Vehicle Roadworthy
Regular checks and maintenance play a key role in road safety. Many breakdowns and some crashes are caused by issues that could have been prevented.
Before Each Journey
- Check tyre pressure and tread
- Ensure all lights are working
- Check windscreen wipers and washer fluid
- Make sure windows are clean and clear
- Adjust mirrors if needed
Ongoing Maintenance
- Brake inspections
- Suspension and steering checks
- Fluid top-ups (oil, coolant, brake fluid)
- Tyre replacement when tread drops below 3 mm (legal minimum is 1.6 mm)
- Battery condition and charging
Don’t wait for warning lights to act. A professional service can often catch problems before they become dangerous.
Get Involved: Events and Activities
Across the UK, communities, schools and workplaces will be marking Road Safety Week with activities designed to raise awareness and inspire change.
School Initiatives
- Educational Sessions: Age-appropriate lessons on how to stay safe as pedestrians, cyclists and future drivers
- Design Competitions: Children can create road safety posters or design futuristic safe vehicles
- Walk to School Days: Promote active travel while learning practical safety skills
- Interactive Workshops: Learn about blind spots, crossings and bike safety in a hands-on way
Community Engagement
- Vehicle Safety Demonstrations: Learn how to perform basic checks and understand key systems
- Driver Training: Refresher courses on defensive driving and emergency response
- Charity Events: Walks, runs or bike rides to raise money for Brake’s National Road Victim Service
- Tea Brake Gatherings: Community events to reflect, raise awareness and fundraise
Free Resources Available
By registering at brake.org.uk/roadsafetyweek, you’ll receive:
- A free action pack
- Activity ideas for schools and businesses
- Posters and educational resources
- Campaign graphics for social media
- Regular updates and ideas during the week
All materials are free and easy to use.
What You Can Do
Whether you’re a driver, cyclist, pedestrian or someone who simply wants safer streets in your community, your actions make a difference.
As a Driver
- Obey speed limits at all times
- Always wear your seatbelt
- Never use your phone while driving
- Avoid driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- Take breaks to avoid tiredness
- Keep safety features like ISA turned on
- Service your car regularly and don’t ignore warning lights
As a Pedestrian or Cyclist
- Wear hi-vis gear in poor light
- Use designated crossings and cycle paths where available
- Make eye contact with drivers before crossing
- Always wear a helmet when cycling
- Teach children road safety basics
In Your Community
- Share road safety content using #RoadSafetyWeek
- Encourage schools and workplaces to get involved
- Contact your council about unsafe roads or junctions
- Support campaigns for safer road design
- Donate to support victims and their families
Workplace Road Safety
If your business employs drivers, you have a legal and moral responsibility to keep them safe.
- Choose vehicles with high safety ratings
- Implement daily vehicle checks
- Provide training and refresher courses
- Monitor driving behaviour
- Build in realistic journey times to prevent speeding and fatigue
A Global Effort: The UN Decade of Action
Road Safety Week is part of the UN’s Decade of Action for Road Safety, which runs from 2021 to 2030. The goal is to reduce global road deaths and serious injuries by half by 2030.
To achieve this, the UK must continue aligning with European General Safety Regulations. This includes mandating life-saving technology in all new vehicles. But technology alone isn’t enough.
Road safety depends on:
- Safe vehicles
- Safe road users
- Safe roads
- Safe speeds
- Effective post-crash care
Looking Ahead
Let’s keep a few things in mind:
- Road crashes are preventable. They are not just accidents
- Technology only helps if it is maintained and used correctly
- Everyone has a role to play, no matter how they use the road
- Regular maintenance and safe driving go hand in hand
Behind every number is a name. A life. A family. And a story that didn’t need to end that way.
Take Action Today
- Sign up at brake.org.uk/roadsafetyweek
- Check your vehicle, is it safe and roadworthy?
- Reflect on your driving, could you improve your habits?
- Share road safety messages with your network
- Get involved in local events
If your vehicle is due a service, or you simply want peace of mind before winter, contact Bartlett Automotive. We’re here to ensure your car remains safe, compliant and reliable.
Safe vehicles save lives. And safety starts with you. Let’s make our roads safer, together.
