THE council's Road Safety Team is supporting the UK’s biggest road safety event, Road Safety Week, between November 18 and 24.

The event is coordinated by Brake, the road safety charity, and this year thousands of organisations, schools and community groups are being encouraged to ‘step up for safe streets’ by leaving the car at home or vowing to be a safer driver.

As part of the campaign, Cheshire West and Chester Council's team is joining up with partners to deliver multi-agency project Crucial Crew.

It aims to provide an interactive way of teaching children to become more aware of personal safety, learn how to react to dangerous situations, practice safety skills within a controlled environment and gain knowledge that can be carried into the wider community and used in their everyday lives.

Statistics show that every 20 minutes someone is killed or seriously injured on a British road. Each of these tragedies has a devastating effect on families and local communities. This year’s Road Safety Week theme is ‘step up for safe streets’.

The council’s Director of Place Operations, Maria Byrne said: “Everyone can get involved, our Road Safety Team is urging everyone to ‘step up’ by leaving the car at home, to help improve safety and air quality, or by pledging to be a safe driver.

“Healthy journeys are important to help keep us active and happy. Choosing to walk, scoot and cycle safely means that the air we breathe on these journeys could be cleaner too.”

Dave Nichols, community engagement manager for Brake, said: “We’re delighted Cheshire West and Chester Council’s Road Safety Team is getting involved with Road Safety Week and stepping up for safe streets. Nobody should be killed or seriously injured on our roads and we already know the many solutions that can prevent these tragedies and allow us all to get around in safe and healthy ways. It’s vital everyone gets involved with learning about, shouting about and celebrating these solutions, whether through campaigning for safer roads, or choosing to use roads as safely as possible. Together we can make roads safer for everyone.”