Part of the UN Decade of Action for Road Safety, the focus of Road Safety Week this year is pedestrian safety. Pedestrians are a high-risk group making up around a quarter of annual global road deaths. As a consequence, the campaign will draw attention to the urgent need to better protect pedestrians around the world and will generate actions to support this goal. 

Examples of Arval's work to support Road Safety Week include the company’s UK division, which has produced thousands of credit card-sized safety cards containing 10 essential tips for drivers as well as a tyre wear indicator. These will be distributed to employees, customers and the local community free of charge in the hope that they will act as a useful reminder for drivers and promote good driving practices.

In the UK, Arval will also be running safety-related puppet shows for hundreds of students at colleges in Birmingham and Trowbridge as well as delivering training sessions to employees.

Similar activities will be replicated across some of the 25 countries where Arval has a subsidiary.

Tracey Scarr, CSR manager at Arval UK, commented: ‘No driver can afford to take road safety lightly so it is important to continually reinforce the responsibility that drivers have to keep themselves and other road users safe. UN road safety week is great initiative in moving safety up the agenda and to support this we hope that our cards will act as a reminder to drivers in the format that they can easily keep in their purse or wallet.’

Arval’s Top Tips for Safer Driving:

• Belt up on every journey – always wear your seat belt and make sure your passengers do too (front and back).
• Protect your neck – adjust your head restraint and save yourself from whiplash.
• Keep your distance – always keep a 2 second gap between you and the vehicle in front.
• Slow down – don’t exceed the speed limit! Adjust your speed around schools and in poor weather conditions.
• Concentrate – just a moment’s distraction can kill. Give the job of driving your full attention.
• Take a break – never drive whilst tired. On long journeys stop for at least a 15-minute break every two hours.
• Switch off your phone – there is no conversation or text message that is more important than a life.
• Don’t drink and drive – alcohol impairs your driving. Think carefully if you’re safe to drive the morning after too.
• Anticipate and observe – look once, look twice, think bike. Look out for pedestrians and all other types of road users.
• Look after your car – regularly check oil, water, tyres and lights. It is your responsibility to keep your car roadworthy.