In this latest opinion piece, published during National Road Victim Month, Chris Lewis, policy officer for the police and crime commissioner for Warwickshire, calls for local road safety partnerships to do more to remember those affected by road traffic collisions.
Warwickshire Road Safety Partnership has always recognised the importance of remembering those affected by road traffic collisions as part of the post-collision care element of a Safe System. We firmly believe that by paying tribute to their lives, we ensure that their legacies endure, and their stories serve as a catalyst for change.
The partnership works closely with national and local road victim charities such as Brake and RoadPeace to support victims, families, and friends. However, we have always wanted to honour the memories of those whose lives were abruptly taken or fundamentally altered by road traffic collisions and show our commitment to the work that lies ahead of us to create safer roads.
In 2020 the partnership organised their first service for the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims. Due to restrictions in place, this took place online. The service offering has grown over the past three years with an annual service now held at St Mary’s in Warwick, which is open to all faiths. A memorial toolkit has also been developed which is shared with all faith leaders in the county to help the day be incorporated into regular services.
The partnership understands that families want to remember in different ways and have also created an online space for people to leave a tribute. The online space allows families to visit whenever they want from a mobile or computer to see their tribute and remember their loved one. The tributes also signify the long-term consequences of a collision.
In July 2023 the first permanent memorial for road traffic victims in Warwickshire was unveiled at Hartshill Hayes Country Park, with a special ceremony attended by representatives of the county’s emergency services, road safety campaigners and local dignitaries. Through this memorial, we offer a peaceful sanctuary where families, friends, and colleagues can gather to reflect, remember, and find solace.
This memorial is not intended for judgement or blame. It is a place of remembrance; a space where the love, memories, and stories of those that have been lost can flourish. It is a sanctuary where we all can find solace and draw strength from one another, knowing that we are not alone on this difficult journey.
The partnership also embraces the memorial as a symbol of hope, a reminder that together, we can create a safer future for all road users. We must strive to prevent even a single life from being lost on our roads. Together, we can create a culture of safer road use, instilling the values of responsibility, attentiveness, and respect for one another.
Local road safety partnerships and authorities can all show their commitment to support victims through localised initiatives. Through raising awareness of the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims or National Road Traffic Victim month in August, it helps raise awareness of the devastating consequences of road traffic collisions and shows commitment to reducing them.
It will never be possible to eliminate all traffic collisions. Some are deliberate, attempts (often successful) at suicide. With the growth of Dashcams ther is evidence from users of Heavy Lorries of a steady number of deliberate head on collisons between a car and the lorry, with the car driver to blame. The lorry drivers suffers in these cases and companies now give counselling to drivers who have suffered this (Same applies to train drivers) Likewise near me recently there have been two examples of cars with elderly drivers colliding with substantial trees and dying. Not heard results of inquests but who knows.
Robert Bolt, St Albans
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