One Decision: Road safety starts with the choices we make

One Decision: Road safety starts with the choices we make

Every time we get behind the wheel, we make decisions that can affect not only our own safety, but the safety of everyone else using our roads. Road collisions can have devastating consequences for individuals, families and communities, and I have heard first-hand the lasting impact they can have on those involved.

The Government’s 2026 Road Safety Strategy states that around 9 in 10 collisions have human driver error as a contributory factor. This means the decisions we make behind the wheel can make a real difference – helping to keep ourselves and others safe. While we cannot prevent every incident, many collisions are avoidable, and the decisions we make as drivers can play an important part in keeping people safe.

That is why I am launching One Decision, a new road safety campaign focused on the simple choices we can all make to help prevent harm on Dorset’s roads. The message behind the campaign is straightforward: every journey is shaped by the decisions we make, and one safe decision could save a life. 

Throughout October, I will be highlighting different road safety decisions that road users can make – from easing off the accelerator and putting your phone away, to never driving under the influence of illegal drugs or medication that affects your ability to drive safely, to choosing to get public transport or a lift from a friend or simply making sure you and your passengers are wearing a seatbelt. These are simple actions, but they can make a significant difference.

Just 10mph can make the difference between life and death. A pedestrian struck at 20mph is 40% more likely to survive than one struck at 30mph. Wearing a seatbelt reduces the risk of death for drivers by 50%, while using a mobile phone while driving makes you four times more likely to be involved in a crash.

These figures demonstrate why the choices we make matter. A few seconds to put a phone away, a decision to slow down, choosing not to drive after drinking, or deciding not to get behind the wheel when affected by drugs or medication can seem like small things. But they can have consequences that last a lifetime.

The One Decision campaign is deliberately about positive choices. Rather than simply telling people what not to do, I want to encourage everyone to think about what they can do to make their journey safer. For some, that might mean leaving a little earlier so there is no temptation to speed. For others, it could mean putting their phone somewhere they cannot reach it before setting off, planning how they will get home after drinking, or checking whether medication they have been prescribed could affect their ability to drive. It is also important to remember that prescription medication is not automatically safe to take before driving simply because it has been prescribed. If medication carries a warning that it may affect your ability to drive, make sure you understand the advice and do not drive if you are not fit to do so.

And road safety is not just about drivers. We all have a part to play, whether we are passengers, cyclists, motorcyclists, pedestrians or other road users. Being aware of the people around us and making safe choices can help make Dorset’s roads safer for everyone.

This campaign is just part of the work taking place to support road safety in Dorset. As Police and Crime Commissioner, I continue to support the work of Dorset Police’s Roads Policing Team, Dorset’s many Community Speed Watch teams and all the officers, staff and volunteers who are working to make our roads safer. I have seen first-hand the professionalism and commitment of Dorset Police’s roads policing teams, as well as the valuable contribution made by community volunteers. Their work includes both enforcement and education, helping to tackle dangerous driving and raise awareness of the behaviours that put people at risk and you can read more about it here.

But enforcement can only ever be part of the answer.

Road safety is a shared responsibility, and we can all do our part to make Dorset’s roads safer. We cannot control every decision another road user makes, but we can control our own. So, as you set off on your next journey, take a moment to think about the one decision you could make to make it safer.

One decision to slow down. One decision to buckle up. One decision to put your phone away.

One decision to never drive under the influence of drink, drugs or medication that affects your ability to drive. One decision to choose a safe way home.

One decision could save a life.

David Sidwick

Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner