Road safety for community groups: helping volunteers stay safe near roads
Whether you're organising a litter pick, leading a school project or supporting your local area through a town or parish council, it's important to think about road safety before getting started.
Many community activities take place near roads, car parks and pedestrian routes. A little preparation can help volunteers, staff, pupils and members of the public stay safe while carrying out valuable work in their communities.
For Road Safety Week, we've created a short video sharing practical tips that are relatable for coming home from school, cycling on roads or community groups work safely around roads.
Road safety tips that could make a big difference
Please note that this video contains AI-generated video clips.
Hello, my name is Will and I work for Zurich Municipal.
Road Safety Week happens at a really important time when the clocks have just changed, and that means it's darker when you walk home or cycle from school. It's easy to forget when you're walking or cycling, how hard it can be for drivers to see you.
As someone who drives, my tip would be, please wear something bright. If you're walking or you're cycling home and you're dressed in dark trousers and a dark coat, it is so tricky to see people when they're crossing the road or even just walking alongside it. It doesn't have to be a big high vis, just a little sticker on your bag. Something on your bike. Some sort of light.
Just make sure that you are seen and that will make it easier for drivers to see you and that most importantly, keeps you safe.
Why road safety matters
According to the Department for Transport, pedestrians are one of the UK's vulnerable road user groups because they are not protected by a vehicle body and can be harder for drivers to see. The department also reports that vulnerable road users, including pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists, account for a disproportionately large share of those killed or seriously injured on Britain's roads.
That's why road safety should be considered whenever activities take place near traffic.
Brake, the road safety charity behind Road Safety Week, runs the annual campaign to raise awareness of road death and injury and encourage safer roads for everyone.
Plan before you begin
Before starting a litter pick or community activity, take a few moments to assess the area.
Consider:
- Whether volunteers will be working close to moving traffic
- If participants need to cross roads
- Whether there is a safe meeting point
- If children or young people are involved
- How weather or poor visibility could affect the activity
According to RoSPA (The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents), effective road safety measures can help reduce the number of people killed or injured on the road. Taking a few minutes to plan ahead is a simple way to support safer activities.
Make sure volunteers can be seen
Visibility is an important part of staying safe near roads.
The Highway Code advises organised groups walking near roads to use fluorescent clothing during daylight and reflective clothing in the dark. It also recommends using designated lookouts at the front and back of larger groups. The Highway Code also states that reflective materials can be seen by drivers using headlights from up to three times the distance of non-reflective materials
For community activities, wearing high visibility clothing can help volunteers stand out more clearly to road users, particularly during darker winter months.
Keep children safe
Schools, youth groups and community organisations often involve children in local projects.
The Highway Code advises that young children should not be out alone on pavements or roads and that adults should keep between children and traffic whenever possible. If children are taking part in a litter pick or environmental activity, make sure there is appropriate adult supervision throughout the event.
Stay aware of your surroundings
When working near roads, it is important to remain alert. The Highway Code advises pedestrians to remain aware of their surroundings and avoid unnecessary distractions. Regular reminders to volunteers about staying aware of traffic, road users and changing conditions can help everyone focus on safety.
A simple road safety checklist
Before your activity begins:
- Assess the location and identify road-related hazards
- Brief volunteers on safe working practices
- Wear high-visibility clothing where appropriate
- Ensure children are closely supervised
- Make sure everyone knows where it is safe to walk and gather
- Review conditions throughout the event
Sign up to our newsletter
Contact Zurich Municipal
Featured articles
Preparing for autumn and winter: Protecting your people, property and services
