New car offers these days are full of safety gadgetry, but there is often no substitute to common sense and alertness on the part of the driver.
To ensure people have a higher chance of avoiding accidents on the roads, Brake is calling for a blanket reduction of the speed limit around schools, on residential streets and in village, town and city centres.
The charity states there is overwhelming public support for the introduction of 20mph limits, as its latest survey shows eight in ten people (78 per cent) think a 10mph should be introduced.
Furthermore, the research also found seven in ten (72 per cent) want their own town or village to have safer roads for walking and cycling, while eight in ten (81 per cent) believe traffic travels too fast.
According to Brake, an estimated 12.5 million people now live in areas that are already implementing or committing to widespread 20mph limits and the charity argues it makes more social and economic sense to make this limit the national default.
Lower speed limits deliver improvements in public health and social activity, as well as
reductions in congestion, pollution and noise, explained Brake, which is now taking its GO 20 campaign to a parliamentary reception.
Julie Townsend, deputy chief executive at the group, said that as a country, the UK needs to address senseless road traffic casualties and allow people to live healthy, active, social lives. The introduction of a 20mph limit in local communities will make this a reality.
She added: "That's why so many local authorities are making the switch from 30mph to 20mph. With many people already reaping the benefits of living in 20mph areas, we're reaching a point where it makes no sense to retain 30mph as the default limit in built-up areas. It's time for the government to GO 20 nationally, to save councils money and help create safe, active, happy communities nationwide."
Posted by Emma Grange