This year's Road Safety Week theme is 'Safe Vehicles Save Lives'.

This Road Safety Week, we want to make sure that every time we get in a vehicle we are as safe as possible, whoever we are and however we travel.

Because safe vehicles save lives!

What is a safe vehicle?

Safe vehicles are designed to prevent road crashes and protect people inside and outside the vehicle if a crash does happen.

Safe vehicles...

• Prevent crashes - Automated driver assistance systems keep vehicles in the right lane and below speed limits, detect hazards and brake in an emergency.
• Protect people inside and outside the vehicle - Seatbelts, airbags and ‘forgiving’ vehicle parts protect people inside and outside the vehicle in a crash. Vehicles must pass stringent crash tests.
• Manage driver safety - Vehicle technology detects unsafe driving behaviour (e.g. due to tiredness) and informs authorities.
• Are roadworthy - Vehicles are maintained to the highest standards and drivers carry out checks before every journey.
• Record crashes - Event data recorders record what happens in a crash and notify emergency services immediately.

Safe vehicles are an important part of the safe systems approach to road safety – a shared approach to prevent death and serious injury from road crashes.