The theme of Road Safety Week 2024 (20-26 May) is Be a road safety hero, recognising everyone who helps to make our roads safer and support people after a crash, and explaining how we can all play a part in making journeys safer for everyone. 

Everyone can be a Road Safety Hero. Road Safety Week 2024 recognises everyone who is working to make our roads safer and support people following crashes - from emergency services to health professionals, transport engineers to school crossing patrols, road workers to community campaigners. It also enables everyone who uses roads to understand how they can take responsibility for their own safety and the safety of others.

Speak up for safe and healthy journeys - Safe journeys happen when we design our road transport network so that human error doesn't result in death or serious injury. This approach of safety by design is known as the Safe System approach and the great news is that the solutions are known and available to us now! From safety technology in vehicles, to speed limits that reflect the safety of the roads, we can all learn about, shout about and celebrate these proven solutions.

Healthy journeys are important to help keep us healthy, fit and happy. We need to make sure that choosing to walk or cycle doesn't put us at increased risk and that the air we breathe on our journeys is clean. We know the solutions here too – we need to prioritise safe spaces for travel on foot and by bike and ensure that the vehicles that remain on our roads use ultra-low emission technology. 

The theme of the UN Global Road Safety Week focuses on designing transport systems with people at the centre, and highlights how sustainable and active travel can help us to create greener, safer and more liveable communities. Some of our hero messages during Road Safety Week will focus on these issues, to tie in with the Global Week too.