Do your part to help everyone stay safe | Injury prevention week 2020

According to Government figures published in September 2019, there were 122,635 road traffic accidents in Great Britain the previous year, of which a staggering 24,836 involved fatal or serious injuries.

The World Health Organization reports that approximately 1.35 million people die worldwide each year as a result of road traffic crashes, with between 20 and 50 million people suffering non-fatal injuries (more than half of which involve vulnerable road users – pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists). The young are particularly vulnerable; injuries sustained in road accidents are the leading cause of death for children and young adults aged 5-29 years.

The Government’s aim must be to address the need for safe roads, safe speeds, safe vehicles and safe road users in order to eradicate fatal accidents and reduce serious injuries.

On an individual level, there are several factors that increase both the risk of road traffic crashes and therefore the risk of death or injury:

• Driving at speed – significantly increases: the likelihood of a crash occurring, and the likelihood of there being more severe consequences for those involved
• Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
• Distraction – drivers and pedestrians – including the use of mobile phones

Helping to raise awareness of the issues surrounding road safety, the focus of APIL’s Injury Prevention campaign this year is on road safety for pedestrians, with particular attention on children who may well be returning to school in the autumn.

Road traffic accidents, deaths and injuries can be prevented. We can all play our part in helping to achieve that goal, from Government policymakers in the transport, police, health and education sectors to individual motorists, pedestrians and other road users.

Our experienced team of expert personal injury lawyers have seen at first hand the devastation caused to severely injured people, their families and loved ones by largely avoidable accidents.