The Member of Parliament for the City of Lincoln, Karl McCartney MP, is backing a national campaign launched on 17 November by road safety charity Brake, calling on road users to look out for each other to help stop the five deaths and 61 serious injuries that happen every day on UK roads, and particularly to protect people on foot and on bikes.
The call comes at the start of Road Safety Week, coordinated by Brake, during which thousands of schools, employers and community groups will be raising awareness about road safety, and police across the Country will be stepping up traffic enforcement to deter and catch those inconsiderate drivers and road users putting others at risk.
The look out for each other campaign is all about everyone, but especially the largest user group - drivers, showing patience, consideration and responsibility towards their other road users, especially the most vulnerable. To help avoid tragedy, Brake is particularly urging drivers to protect people on foot and on bikes by slowing down to 20mph in communities, looking longer and taking it slow at junctions and bends, and giving people plenty of room. People on foot and bikes are also being encouraged not to take chances, and to make sure they can be seen as evenings draw in.
To show his support for Road Safety Week Karl joined MPs from all parties at an MP Drop-In Event Brake held in Portcullis House, Westminster.
Karl McCartney MP, said: “I was very pleased to join Members from all political parties to support Brake’s MP Drop-In during Road Safety Week this week. As a Member of Parliament in a very busy City Constituency and also as a Member of the Transport Select Committee, I am happy to join Brake in urging all road users to look out for each other to help stop the five deaths and 61 serious injuries that happen every day on our roads - and particularly to protect pedestrians and cyclists. Road crashes are devastating and mostly preventable events. We all have a responsibility to do everything we can to prevent them.”
Julie Townsend, Deputy Chief Executive, Brake, said: “When drivers use roads without care for others the consequences can be tragic and horrific – people killed and badly injured, lives ruined forever, because of a moment of impatience or selfishness. At Brake we witness the suffering that results, daily, through our work supporting people affected by road death and injury. And there are wider consequences if we don’t look out for each other on roads – people afraid to walk and cycle or let their kids walk and cycle, and unable to get out and enjoy their community and live active lifestyles. That’s why, instead of making our streets stressful, risky places, we’re asking all road users to look out for and protect each other, particularly the most vulnerable – that means drivers sticking to 20 or below in towns and villages, looking carefully at junctions, and being considerate. Ultimately, we’re all just human beings trying to get around, with equal right to use the roads, not competing tribes.”
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