Vulnerable road users awareness toolkit for commercial motor clients
All drivers have a responsibility to ensure the safety of themselves, their passengers, and all other road users. This is especially important when it comes to sharing space with Vulnerable Road Users (VRUs).
VRUs include pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists, horse riders, children, older adults, people with disabilities, learner or inexperienced drivers and riders. This is because VRUs have less crash protection than vehicle users and are often less visible on the road. This increases the risk of death or serious injury when VRUs are involved in a collision.
In the UK, VRUs account for a significant portion of road casualties. Current figures in Great Britain at the end of June 2024, show that pedestrians made up 24% of road fatalities, motorcyclists 20%, and pedal cyclists 5%1. So, we’ve created a range of materials to support the education and awareness of employees who drive for work.
The toolkit includes a video which explains how together we can use the roads safely. It helps to define what we mean by a VRU and highlight some of the key changes that came into effect within the Highway Code in 2022 when completing manoeuvres and exiting a vehicle safely, as well as looking at the potential impact of driver distraction and the possible consequences of using a mobile phone whilst driving.
If you’d like to share this video with your drivers, please feel free to use it in any of your staff communications.
Other useful material
In addition to the video we have some other documents available in our VRU toolkit:
- Highway Code changes: A visual guide
- Changes to the law around using devices behind the wheel
- Webinar available to watch on demand
- Protecting VRUs – Loss Prevention Standard
We hope you find this material helpful in educating your drivers and staff on the changing road-use landscape and potential trends on the horizon.
1 Department for Transport Reported Road Casualties Provisional Estimates June 2024