Funding boost for victims
Brake welcomed government plans to invest an extra £50m to support victims of crime, including road traffic crime. £30m of this will come from increases in fixed penalty fines for traffic offences (from £60 to £80-100). Brake spoke out, highlighting that road crash victim
support remains grossly under-funded, with bereaved and seriously injured people often unable to access comprehensive help. Brake is urging government to use extra revenue from law-breaking drivers to plug the gaps in support for families devastated by road crashes. Read more.
GET INVOLVED: Write to your MP
Write to your MP calling for extra revenue from traffic fines to be used to ensure all road crash victims are automatically offered comprehensive, specialist support. Read more about Brake’s campaign for
support for road crash victims and how you can help.
Success: annual MOT here to stay
Last year Brake joined forces with more than 30 other organisations to defend annual MOT tests as part of the Pro-MOTe campaign. It highlighted that reducing the frequency of MOTs would result in 250 more road deaths each year and 2,200 serious injuries. Last week Transport Secretary Justine Greening announced the government will retain annual MOT tests, and abandon plans to consider less frequent testing. Thanks to everyone who backed this successful campaign. Read more.
GET INVOLVED: Pat yourself on the back, then take more action!
This shows how powerful we are if we act together. Now it’s time to push for the government to ditch other proposals that threaten road safety - plans to up the motorway speed limit to 80mph.
Write to the Transport Secretary stating your opposition.
Read why it’s an inhumane and senseless proposal.
Cuts to traffic police
Last week Brake revealed numbers of traffic police carrying out life-saving enforcement have been slashed by 11.6% in five years. The cuts are six times greater than to overall police numbers. Brake called for government action to put a stop to these cuts, which we warned will lead to more drivers thinking they can get away with life-threatening illegal behaviour, like driving drunk, drugged, on a mobile phone or in an unroadworthy vehicle. Read more.
GET INVOLVED: Pledge allegiance to safe driving
Make Brake’s Pledge to show your commitment to safe, legal driving. By making the Pledge, you are helping to spread the word that road safety matters.
2young2die website revamp
Brake’s improved 2young2die website is now live, with updated resources and activities. The site is designed to encourage young people to take responsibility for their own safety by making Brake's Pledge, developing their own 2young2die campaign and entering Brake’s 2young2die Awards. Take a look here.
GET INVOLVED: Help young people stay safe
There are lots of ways to get involved in
2young2die, including being trained to deliver powerful presentations to young people and fundraising in support.
Find out more.
Driver vision
One in three drivers admit having difficulty driving at night, seeing hazards in the distance and reading signs because of poor vision, according to research by Ultralase. They also found one in five have not had an eye test in the past two years. Brake’s Sharpen up campaign is calling for government to require drivers to have a proper vision test when they take their test, and at least every 10 years thereafter, at the same time as renewing your photocard. Brake is also reminding drivers of the vital importance of getting your sight tested every two years, even if you think your sight is fine, or sooner if you notice problems.
GET INVOLVED: Spread the word on Facebook
Click ‘like’ on our
Sharpen up web page to spread the word about the importance of all drivers making sure they can see properly.
Run for Brake
The British 10k London run is on 8 July 2012 and Brake needs runners. You need to raise a minimum of £150 sponsorship to enter, and it will be a fantastic fun-filled experience to remember. 25,000 runners take part each year, passing London landmarks including Big Ben, The London Eye and Westminster Abbey. There’s nothing like it, and all funds raised help Brake to support victims of road crashes and campaign to make roads safer.
GET INVOLVED: Run the British 10K
Sign up by emailing
helpbrake@brake.org.uk or ring Lisa on 01484 683294. You can also read Brake’s
tips on raising sponsorship.
