Road Safety Week is an annual initiative encouraging motorists to pay more attention on the roads to save lives and prevent serious injury
The UK’s biggest road safety initiative returns this week, with a message for British drivers to ‘Speed Down, Save Lives’.
Road Safety Week [20th – 26th November], which is now in its 20th year, is an awareness day organised by road traffic charity Brake with the aim of encouraging motorists to be more vigilant and to take care on British roads.
As part of the awareness week thousands of schools, community groups and campaigners will join together to show their support for the campaign by organising fundraising events, and using social media to promote life-saving messages through the hashtag #SpeedDown.
We are incredibly proud to be there to support and guide people through the process of making a claim for compensation after they have been injured through no fault of their own. We know from the thousands we have helped the disruption and even devastation that road traffic accidents can cause to people’s lives, and anything that might reduce the numbers injured, is welcome.David Robinson national professional support lawyer for personal injury and senior serious injury solicitor
Speeding on UK roads continues to be a significant issue and a major cause of road traffic collisions, which is why the initiative is this year focussing on the theme ‘Speed Down, Save Lives’. According to the Department for Transport, exceeding the speed limit or travelling too fast in unsuitable driving conditions is recorded as a contributory factor in 23 per cent of fatal crashes in the UK. The latest statistics from the government body also state that 1,713 people were killed on Britain’s roads during 2013, and the total number of causalities reported to the police was 183,670.
Thompsons Solicitors is all too familiar with the devastating consequences of road traffic collisions, having represented tens of thousands of people and their families who have been injured on the roads as pedestrians, cyclists, motorists, passengers, motorcyclists and even horse riders.
This year alone, Thompsons’ team of dedicated and specialist road traffic accident lawyers have – and are currently helping – more than 10,000 people who have been affected by a road traffic collision, securing them maximum compensation and signposting them to specialist rehabilitation services and support groups when needed.
David Robinson, national professional support lawyer for personal injury and senior serious injury solicitor at Thompsons Solicitors, said: “We are incredibly proud to be there to support and guide people through the process of making a claim for compensation after they have been injured through no fault of their own. We know from the thousands we have helped the disruption and even devastation that road traffic accidents can cause to people’s lives, and anything that might reduce the numbers injured, is welcome.
“Road Safety Week is a poignant time for all motorists to remember that the smallest changes in driving behaviour, such as reducing speed and simply paying more attention on the road, can make the biggest difference. Thompsons can help people after an accident – as insurers rarely pay up without a fight or trying to pay out too little – but awareness campaigns such as this are key to reducing those who need lawyers at all which must be the aim of us all.
“We fully support Brake’s ‘Speed Down, Save Lives’ campaign and implore motorists to take note of its warnings.”
Over the course of Road Safety Week, Brake is asking drivers to abide by the law and to recognise that:
- Speed causes deaths and serious injuries on our roads
- Rural roads are not race tracks
- 20mph is the only safe speed in heavily built-up areas used by pedestrians and cyclists
- Going slow means stopping in time
- Speed is scary and noisy. It stops communities being enjoyable places for children and families to walk, talk and play
- Speed cameras work and they save lives.
To get involved in Road Safety Week, you can register to receive your free, online action pack.
Injured on the roads? Help and compensation is close at hand.
If you’ve been injured on the roads in the last three years, Thompsons Solicitors' expert road traffic accident solicitors can support you with making a road traffic compensation claim.
Whether you were the driver or passenger in a car, lorry, coach, van, bus, truck, on public transport or were injured as a pedestrian or cyclist, you may be able to claim for damages.
If you have suffered injuries such as whiplash, bruising or a more serious injury following a road traffic collision on the motorway, country lane or city roads, our solicitors across the UK are ready to help you to make a claim and access any rehabilitation you require.
Unlike other firms, Thompsons only ever acts for the injured person – never for insurance companies. This means we will fight harder to secure the maximum level of compensation for your injuries, and don’t need to please motor insurance paymasters.
Contact us today for a free, no obligation assessment of whether you have a claim for compensation following a road accident.
For further information, visit our How to Make A Compensation Claim page.