Road Safety Week is coming up 4 – 10 May. Families and communities are being encouraged to take part and join hundreds of community groups, schools and organisations running activities to help raise awareness of road safety.
Road Safety Week is coordinated by Brake, the road safety charity and sponsored by NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) and Beca. The theme of the week is Be a road safety hero, recognising all those who are working to make our roads safer for everyone – from designing safer roads to caring for people after a crash – and highlighting the part we can all play in making roads safer.
Brake is encouraging families and community leaders to go to www.roadsafetyweek.org.nz/communities for more information about the week and to register for a free online action pack of resources. This includes downloadable resources and activity ideas, and interactive resources.
Road Safety Week, which is now in it’s 15th year, is a great opportunity for community groups, families, schools and organisations to take action on local road safety issues and raise awareness to prevent needless casualties.
Caroline Perry, Brake’s NZ Director said: “Everyone should be able to get around in safe and healthy ways, every day. There are lots of people who work to make our roads safer, to save lives when crashes happen, and to support those affected by crashes, so this Road Safety Week we want to recognise all these Road Safety Heroes and highlight how everyone can be a hero too.
“Parents and community groups can help get these vital messages out to families, young people and local drivers, making a difference to their local community. It’s not too late to get involved – just visit the Road Safety Week website and sign up to get a free action pack.”
NZTA Strategy Director - Safety, Fabian Marsh, says NZTA is proud to sponsor Road Safety Week 2026, as making New Zealand roads safer for everyone is a top priority for the organisation.
“Road Safety Week is a great way to help highlight people and organisations already involved in improving road safety, and to help raise awareness of road safety in local communities.”
Andrea Rickard, Managing Director – New Zealand, Beca says: “Reducing harm on Aotearoa’s roads is a vital part of our work at Beca. We’re proud to again stand alongside Brake, NZ Transport Agency, our partners and all the road safety heroes in communities across the motu who work every day to make our roads safer. I know our Beca teams around New Zealand are excited to get out and promote road safety messages in the communities we live and work in, including teaching students in our local schools about how to stay safe on and around roads.”
Celebrate your Road Safety Heroes
There are ways communities can highlight their own Road Safety Heroes locally during Road Safety Week, and ideas are included in the action pack.
Heroes will also be celebrated nationally throughout the week. Brake is a member of the Yellow Ribbon Road Safety Alliance, a group of organisations working to raise awareness of road safety. The Alliance will be presenting the annual Road Safety Hero Awards during Road Safety Week, and Brake will also be highlighting the important work of a range of people working to make our roads safer.
Go Yellow in Road Safety Week
Another way the Alliance raises awareness of road safety is through use of the colour yellow, including wearing yellow ribbon pins and lighting up bridges, buildings, and icons yellow during Road Safety Week. Other organisations can support this by lighting local buildings or icons, wearing yellow, or wearing a yellow ribbon pin. If you have a local icon that could be lit yellow, please get in contact with Brake or the Alliance. More information is available on the Road Safety Week website.
As a charity, Brake is reliant on fundraising to help us to continue providing free support resources to people affected by road crashes. Many organisations choose to support Brake with a fundraiser such as a Go Yellow Day during Road Safety Week. Fundraising ideas can be found here: www.roadsafetyweek.org.nz/fundraise.
