Calls for life-saving vehicle tech as fatal car collisions increase in Kent
A road safety charity is calling for life-saving technology to be made standard in all new vehicles as the number of car collisions increase in Kent.
Research by Brake reveals the number of people killed or seriously injured on Kent roads in 2024 was 921, a 15% increase on the year before.
“We have the technology to save lives on our roads, we need to use it.” says charity Brake who are calling for change this Road Safety Week.
Ross Moorlock, Chief Executive at Brake, said:
"We know that modern vehicle safety features such as intelligent speed assistance and automated emergency braking has the potential to have transformational impact. There is simply no good reason why any new vehicle sold in the UK should not to be fitted with the latest generation, life-saving safety features as standard."
"The latest government casualty data, revealing that 59% of road deaths in 2024 involved speed, is a case in point."
Brake's research shows 63% of drivers don’t understand what all the safety features in their car do.
Mr Moorlock is calling on everyone who drives to find out more about the safety features in their vehicles.
"I urge you to use them, to help keep yourself and the people you share the road with as safe as possible."
4,946 people were killed or seriously injured on roads in the South East in 2024, up 3.3% since 2023.
Speed was a road safety factor in 59% of all road deaths in 2024.
Last month, with backing from more than 45 other road safety organisations and individuals, Brake sent a letter to the Secretary of State for Transport, Heidi Alexander MP asking her to deliver a new strategic Road Safety Framework and adopt the latest Vehicle General Safety Regulation updates.
The charity has had no response to date.
More than 3.000 schools, organisations, communities and individuals have signed up to take part in Road Safety Week 2025.
Hundreds of people around Kent will be taking part in Big Tea Brake events at schools, work and in the community to remember road victims and fundraise for Brake.
To sign up and take part, go to www.brake.org.uk/road-safety-week.