We will keep this page updated with information of currently active local, regional and national road safety campaigns.

We want you to have a safe T.R.I.P. this summer

Following this advice will help keep you and your passengers safe and avoid any unnecessary delays or costly repair bills. By planning your journey and preparing your car you can have an enjoyable and stress-free journey.

Before setting off:

• make sure you get a good night's sleep before your trip
• avoid alcohol the day before as this can disrupt sleep and affect your driving the following day
• know what medications you're on and how they affect you
• avoid driving between midnight and 6am when you’re likely to feel most tired

A.C.T – Air Pressure, Condition, Tread

TyreSafe has launched a new campaign to encourage motorists to ACT now and perform regular tyre checks this Spring.

By taking proactive steps to maintain tyre safety, motorists can prevent accidents, breakdowns, and unnecessary expenses. 

• Over 6 million tyres in the UK have illegal tread each year, risking fines of up to £2,500 per tyre and 3 penalty points
• Over 2 million MOT failures occur each year due to tyre defects, with one million classified as dangerous
• 152 people are killed or seriously injured in accidents related to defective tyres every year, a figure on par with mobile phone-related incidents
• 1 in 5 vehicle breakdowns on motorways and A roads result from tyre defects, equating to roughly 50,000 breakdowns annually on the motorway network alone

Stuart Lovatt, TyreSafe chair, said “Springtime brings adventure, and we want to ensure motorists don’t let tyres ruin their big day out.

“Whether it’s a family trip to the beach, a staycation, or even packing up the car and heading to the airport, tyre safety is paramount in making sure people get out and about this spring without a hitch.”

Travel like you know them - THINK!

The Highway Code was changed in 2022, following extensive consultation with walking, cycling and disability groups on the proposed changes in 2020.

The campaign has been relaunched with the new campaign Travel like you know them – THINK!

We encourage people again to:

• give priority at junctions to people cycling straight ahead and people waiting to cross or already crossing the road
• pass horse riders at under 10mph and allow at least 2 metres of space and keep to a low speed when passing people walking on the road
• leave at least 1.5 metres when overtaking cyclists at speeds of up to 30mph, and give them more space when overtaking at higher speeds
• remember that people cycling may ride 2 abreast or in the centre of the lane if it is safer to do so, pulling in when safe to allow vehicles to overtake

Changes to mobile phone laws

The "Hands on the wheel? Hands off your phone" campaign has been launched by THINK! to reduce handheld phone use among young drivers, following a strengthening of the law.

It is now an offence to use a hand-held mobile to use a phone to take photos or videos, scroll through playlists, play games, or hold a phone or similar device in your hand to follow a map, read or send messages, make or take calls, use the Internet, take photos or change music tracks.

If you use a hand-held phone behind the wheel, you can get a £200 fixed penalty notice and 6 points on your licence up to £1,000, 6 points on your licence, and a driving ban.

There is an exemption that allows contactless payments, so long as the vehicle is stationary. A device can also be used hands-free while driving if secured in a cradle, for sat nav use.

Drivers must always take responsibility for their driving and can still be charged with an offence if the police find them not to be in proper control of their vehicle.

Highway Code update January 2022

Rules for all types of road users have been updated in The Highway Code to improve the safety of people walking, cycling and riding horses.

These are summarised by changes to:

• Hierarchy of road users
• People crossing the road at junctions
• Walking, cycling or riding in shared spaces
• Positioning in the road when cycling
• Overtaking when driving or cycling
• People cycling at junctions
• People cycling, riding a horse and driving horse-drawn on roundabouts
• Parking, charging and leaving vehicles

Contact us

If you have any questions please email roadsafety.education@bcpcouncil.gov.uk.