Each year The Air Ambulance Service (TAAS) charity responds to hundreds of serious road traffic collisions across Warwickshire, Northamptonshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, and Rutland. Many of these incidents may have been prevented by simple safety checks and greater road awareness.
From January 2025 to September, TAAS has attended 564 road traffic collisions across the five counties. That is why the charity is backing Road Safety Week 2025 – the UK’s largest campaign run by Brake – which is taking place from 16 to 22 November 2025.
In recognition of the lives lost and injuries suffered on local roads, TAAS is joining with Air Ambulances UK – the national charity that supports the lifesaving work of the UK’s air ambulance charities – to add its voice to the need for more vehicle awareness.
Drivers can take a few straightforward steps that can have a substantial impact by remembering the simple FLOWER mnemonic.
- F = FUEL – enough for your journey
- L = LIGHTS – headlights, brake lights, indicators
- O = OIL – check oil levels when engine is cold
- W = WATER – lubricants, coolants, washer fluid
- E = ELECTRICS – ensure battery is present and secure
- R = RUBBER – tyre pressure, uneven wear, side wall damage, tread
Lindsay Boswell, Interim CEO of Air Ambulances UK said: “Road traffic collisions can happen in an instant, but many accidents are preventable with simple precautions. Every year, air ambulance charities respond to thousands of serious road incidents, often saving lives thanks to the generosity of local communities and the dedication of air ambulance crews.”
To mark the start of Road Safety Week, TAAS will join the Warwickshire Road Safety Partnership’s Service of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims. The event will take place on Sunday 16 November 2025 at 11am at Old Shire Hall, Warwick. Patients flown by TAAS will attend alongside our TAAS representatives to honour those affected and to recognise the lifesaving work of emergency crews.
TAAS continues to work across the region promoting safer driving and delivering lifesaving missions to those in urgent need, ensuring that when every second counts, our crews are there to provide critical care at the scene. The charity receives no government funding and relies entirely on generous donations to remain operational and keep its helicopters flying.
To learn more about the charity, our missions and how you can support our work, please visit www.theairambulanceservice.org.uk.
