GLASGOW residents are being told to leave the car at home and walk or cycle instead.

Charity Brake has launched its latest campaign urging people to use their car less frequently to make roads safer and save money.

Its figures show nearly 80% of drivers admit taking the car when they could have walked, cycled or used public transport.

Chairwoman of Glasgow’s Green Year 2015, councillor Elizabeth Cameron, said: “We are delighted to support the 2015 Road Safety Week and its theme this year of ‘drive less, live more’.

"On the first day of this year’s Road Safety Week on November 23, the road in front of Glasgow’s City Chambers was shut for the day to allow bike ability training for local school children to take place and to promote sustainable travel across our city.

“Road Safety Week this year also ties in well with Glasgow Green Year monthly theme of improving air quality by encouraging our citizens to ditch the car and instead walk, cycle or use public transport where they can.

"It can be a real eye opener to work out how much calories you will burn, money you can save and pollution you won’t create by making informed and sustainable transport choices.

"We want to encourage all Glaswegians, no matter what age, to play their part to support a healthier and safer Dear Green Place.”

As previously told by the Evening Times, more than 300 people died in Glasgow last year due to problems caused by air pollution.

Of the 2094 deaths in Scotland in 2014 linked to poor air quality, 306 of those were in the city.

In Glasgow 42% of people drive to work while only 1.6% of commuters cycle to work.

Five deaths and 64 serious injuries happen daily on UK roads, up 4% on the previous year.

Gary Rae, director of communications and campaigns at Brake, said: “Our Road Safety Week theme of ‘drive less, live more’ makes clear the link between improving road safety, preventing casualties, protecting people and the planet, and our choice of transport.

"We understand that not everyone has freedom of choice in the way they travel, hence we continue to have a strong year-round focus campaigning for a safer environment for walking and cycling through our GO 20 campaign.

"We also support the efforts of partner organisations that are campaigning for better public transport.

"But our main aim through this November’s Road Safety Week is to help people consider the options open to them, and better understand the benefits of driving less, to road safety, health, personal finances, communities and the planet.

“Road Safety Week has become the most crucial fixture in our calendar for raising public awareness of road safety, and it has also become a crucial fixture for many educators, road safety professionals, and employers around the country too.

"We believe this year’s theme is a critical one for all of us, providing a chance to show how road safety is a bigger issue than many people think.”