New Safe Stops Campaign Aims to Make Pub Deliveries Safer and Legal Across the UK

A new initiative is being launched to create a safer, data-driven approach to managing deliveries at roadside pubs in towns and cities, where drivers currently face the dilemma of parking illegally or leaving vehicles far from their destination.

Research by the Brewery Logistics Group (BLG) found that brewery vehicles are often forced to make deliveries where no safe or legal loading provision exists. Drivers frequently move heavy items, such as beer barrels, along crowded pavements, putting themselves and pedestrians at risk of injury.

The Safe Stops Campaign will formally identify unsafe delivery locations and work with local councils to implement safer, smarter, and legally compliant kerbside access for brewery and drinks logistics operators.

The campaign is being delivered in partnership with Grid Smarter Cities, which has developed the Kerb® Delivery platform. The system includes Virtual Loading Bays (VLBs)—pre-approved loading spaces that drivers can book in advance.

Restrictions such as yellow or red lines are temporarily lifted for commercial deliveries at agreed times, enabling safe and compliant access.

BLG members will submit real-world site-specific data using a standardised template. The information will feed into an interactive national Safe Stops map, highlighting hotspots where councils can introduce VLBs or other access solutions. Councils will be invited to review and prioritise these locations, creating measurable improvements in safety, efficiency, and environmental outcomes.

John Crosk, BLG Chairman, said:"This campaign is about making every delivery safe, legal, and efficient. Our members know the streets better than anyone—they can help councils identify where danger and non-compliance occur, and how digital tools can fix it."

Neil Herron, founder of Grid Smarter Cities, added:"By digitising delivery access through Kerb and Virtual Loading Bays, councils can make their streets safer, greener, and more efficient for everyone. It’s a win-win-win scenario: safer deliveries for operators, less enforcement pressure and environmental gains for councils, and safer streets for the public."

The campaign also provides template letters and engagement materials for councils, infographic maps, and borough-level reports. The initiative aligns with the UK’s Vision Zero road safety programme and broader Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) goals.

The BLG-Grid Safe Stops Campaign is supported by Together for Safer Roads and UKHospitality, marking a collaborative push to modernise urban logistics and improve community safety across the UK.