AS Brake’s Road Safety Week 2025 launches, Essex Police is calling on all road users to act in support of safer journeys, using safer vehicles.
With 51 lives lost on Essex roads last year, this campaign is a powerful reminder that behind every statistic is a person or a family affected by a fatal collision.
The campaign got underway at Chelmsford where the Safer Essex Roads Partnership (SERP) fronted a poignant display of 51 pairs of shoes, each representing a life lost on roads in Essex last year.
Brake is a charity that supports road crash victims and campaigns for safe and healthy mobility and this Road Safety Week (17-23 November).
This year’s theme, “Safe Vehicles Save Lives,” highlights the critical role that vehicle safety plays in preventing road deaths and serious injuries. Whether it’s ensuring your car is roadworthy before every journey or choosing a vehicle with advanced safety features, small actions can make a life-saving difference.
There are several ways to make a vehicle safe, including:
• Regular maintenance and safety checks
• Ensuring you have a current MOT and the correct level of insurance
• Functioning brakes, lights, tyres, and steering
• Advanced safety technologies like lane assist, automatic emergency braking, and stability control
• Choosing vehicles with high safety ratings
Head of Essex Police’s Roads Policing Unit, Mr Adam Pipe, said: “We’re committed to Vision Zero – a future where no one dies or is seriously injured on our roads. This vision is built on shared accountability where every road user, on every journey, drives responsibly and is aware of all our road users and makes good driving decisions each and every day.
“I’d urge drivers and motorcyclists to take a moment before every journey to check their vehicles as we want to make sure that every vehicle is safe to use because safe vehicles save lives.
“When driving, please, make conscious choices behind the wheel – slow down, stay focused on the road ahead and never drive impaired. These small actions save lives.”
