Westmorland and Furness Council is supporting Road Safety Week, which runs from 16-22 November 2025.
Organised by road safety charity Brake and taking place each November, Road Safety Week is a national campaign to raise awareness of the impact of road death and injury and call for key measures to make roads safer.
Beginning on the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims, Road Safety Week brings into focus the fact that 1,700 people die on UK roads every year, and a further 30,000 receive serious, life-changing injuries.
Find out more about Road Safety Week.
Westmorland and Furness Council is committed to making roads safer through a combination of engineering improvements, education initiatives and enforcement partnerships. This includes implementing new community-backed 20mph speed limits in residential areas to protect vulnerable road users and create safer communities.
The council has also confirmed a £37.7 million highways improvement programme that is already delivering significant upgrades to roads, bridges and structures. It includes £750,000 earmarked for the delivery of new safety schemes and improvements to road markings and studs, ensuring safer journeys for all.
The council is also a member of the Cumbria Road Safety Partnership, which has a Vision Zero aim to eliminate fatalities and serious injuries on Cumbria's roads by 2040.
Councillor Peter Thornton, Cabinet Member for Highways and ICT, said: "We all know someone whose life was changed by a road accident, either to themselves or a relative. A split second can change lives forever and Westmorland and Furness Council is committed to making our roads as safe as possible. For drivers and pedestrians Road Safety Week is a good time to take stock and for us all to think about the impact of our daily decisions."
Some examples of recent road safety projects the council has been involved in include:
School Safety Improvements – Victoria Academy, Devonshire Road, Barrow
Responding to safety concerns from parents and residents around Victoria Academy, Barrow, the council introduced improved road markings and flashing warning signage to enhance safety around the school.
Kirkby Stephen pedestrian improvements
The zebra crossing on the A685 in Kirkby Stephen, near the junction with Brougham Lane, was redesigned to improve safety, accessibility and compliance with current standards.
The original intention had been to replace the existing zebra crossing with a signalised crossing but this was not possible due to engineering constraints.
Enhancements included the installation of upgraded Belisha beacons, supplemented with additional lighting to improve visibility during hours of darkness. Road markings were refreshed and coloured surfacing applied on each approach to increase driver awareness and reinforce the presence of the crossing.
Accessibility provisions have been significantly improved through the redesign of the existing steps and the installation of a new ramp, constructed in accordance with national design standards to ensure inclusive access for all users, including those with mobility impairments.
In addition, build-outs were constructed on both sides of the carriageway to improve visibility for both pedestrians and motorists, enhancing safety by reducing crossing distances and improving sightlines.
Bikeability – Cycling Proficiency training for young cyclists
Active Cumbria’s Active Travel to School Team receives an annual grant from Active Travel England (via the Bikeability Trust) to deliver Bikeability Training to children in Westmorland and Furness and Cumberland. Training is delivered by Cyclewise Whinlatter Ltd (Cyclewise) and ranges from Balance Bike proficiency, through to Level 3 training aimed at secondary school children who may be cycling in busy, urban areas. The core training and primary focus is the Level 2 module.
Level 2 teaches children to:
- Start and stop with confidence
- Pass stationary vehicles on a road
- Understand road signals and markings
- Negotiate the road, including quiet junctions, crossroads and roundabouts
- Share the road with other vehicles.
Level 3 training builds on the skills taught at Level 2 and riders learn to:
- Use the best riding position for any situation
- Ride alongside other cyclist
- Ride on more complex roads - this might include busier roads, more complicated junctions or faster roads with speed limits above 30mph
- Negotiate more complex roads - for example, junctions controlled by traffic lights, multi-lane roads or cycle lanes
- Respond confidently when a situation changes - for example, when a vehicle pulls out in front of you.
The quality of Bikeability Delivery in Cumbria has been consistently high for several years and Westmorland and Furness Council has an Active Travel Capability rating of 3 (4 being the highest) for the 2024/25 period.
More than 2,700 children took up the training in Westmorland and Furness during 2024/25.
Ambleside – improvements to the one-way system
Responding to concerns from residents that vehicles were driving the wrong way in Ambleside, the Highways team has reviewed the existing infrastructure and identified some signing and road marking improvements – designed to improve compliance and safety for all road users. Works are ongoing.
School safety banner initiative
We developed the school safety banners earlier this year and 68 schools across Westmorland and Furness took part.
Schools reported an increasing number of drivers parking on zig-zag lines intended to keep entrances clear and on kerbs, forcing children to navigate between vehicles in the road and reducing visibility for safe crossings.
In a bid to tackle this, all primary and junior schools across the area were invited to take part in the council’s new banner initiative which aims to promote small but meaningful changes in driver behaviour.
Schools could choose from designs featuring one of two clear and impactful messages: “Be kind, park with safety in mind” or “Walking a little means a lot... park away from the school.”
The council's Road Safety team is looking for any schools that may have missed out previously and would like to take part.
If your school would like to arrange a banner, contact roadsafety@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk