Brake is a road safety charity that works to stop road deaths and injuries, make streets and communities safer and support people bereaved and seriously injured on roads. It is based in Huddersfield in West Yorkshire. Formed in 1995, Brake has 23 employers, over 400 volunteers and an annual income close to £1.3m. There is also a branch of the charity in New Zealand.

Campaigning is a major part of Brake’s work. Brake’s campaigns call for more road safety policies and wider awareness. The charity’s flagship campaigns, GO 20, Too young to die and not a drop call for slower speed limits, better testing for younger drivers and zero tolerance for drink and drug driving. But Brake runs other campaigns on, for instance, specialist support for road crash victims and eliminating mobile phone driver distraction.

The charity encourages people to take the Brake Pledge, a promise to drive less, and if driving is unavoidable, to slow down and protect other people.

Brake runs a helpline for people in the UK who have been bereaved or seriously injured in a crash or are caring for someone similarly affected. The helpline is also for professionals, such as police officers or teachers, who need advice on how to help people affected by a road crash. The helpline supports more than 500 families a year and Brake’s support packs are handed out by police following every road death in the UK.

Brake also coordinates the annual Road Safety Week, the UK’s biggest road safety event which takes place every November. Set up in 1997, Road Safety Week now involves around 10,000 schools, employers and road safety professionals. The aim is to encourage grassroots action on road safety and give people the opportunity to promote road safety, using guidance and resources from Brake. The week also provides road safety professionals with a chance to boost awareness and increase engagement in their work.

Brake Professional is another of Brake’s services. It is a not for profit membership service for fleet operators founded by Brake in 1996. Members benefit from training, tools and guidance on fleet safety best practice, in addition to networking and development opportunities. Membership is open to any organisation, anywhere in the world, that employs drivers. Current membership includes private, public and third sector fleets.

As a charity, Brake is reliant on volunteer support, donations and fundraising to continue its work.