The importance of Road Safety Week in 2025

Every day, Digby Brown sees the devastation caused by road traffic accidents. Not only to individuals but to their family and friends. 

The recent annual Transport Scotland report highlights that road safety remains a critical concern for Scotland, stating that while 5,734 road casualties were recorded in 2024, a slight decrease from the previous year and the first time casualties have dropped since 2020, the alarming fact is that fatalities have increased. 

Last year, there was an increase of 18 fatalities compared to 2023, underscoring the need for continued efforts to improve road safety. 

Brake, the road safety charity, believes every road crash is a preventable tragedy, which is why it runs the annual Road Safety Week campaign that Digby Brown has been proud to support for many years.

With cars being the most common mode of transport involved in road collisions, people must be aware of the safety features of the vehicles they are driving before starting the engine.

Vehicle safety features drivers should know about

As technology continues to develop, the benefit is that our cars are becoming safer with many drivers now having access to features such as:

• Automated driver assistance systems to keep vehicles in the right lane as well as detecting speed limits
• Emergency braking technology which has been developed so that when the vehicle detects a hazard, it will stop
• Event data recorders (EDR’s) which capture data, keeping a log of what happens in a crash and notifying emergency services 

Although these new features are beneficial, we shouldn’t rely on them to keep us safe from car crashes or other road incidents. In other words, improving road safety isn’t just the responsibility of one person or technology; it’s something we all must play a role in.

It’s important for all of us to take steps to keep our vehicles roadworthy. From ensuring we have enough fuel for the trip to checking that our tyres are in good condition with the right pressure and adequate tread, these simple and regular checks not only help keep you safe, but also help prevent avoidable accidents.

How Digby Brown supports victims

As a legal panel member for Brake in Scotland, Digby Brown is honoured to support survivors and bereaved families affected by serious road traffic collisions. 

We recognise that meaningful support involves more than pursuing damages. We help people access the healthcare, medical care and specialist support they need to focus on recovery and what comes next.

Safer vehicles, reducing speed limits, greater education and changing driver behaviour are just some of the ways we can help improve the safety of our roads. 

If you are considering legal advice and would like to discuss your circumstances, our Legal Enquiry Team is available on 0333 200 5925, and you can also submit our Brake enquiry form.