Details of survey methodology are given below the tables.
Discrepancies in or between totals are due to rounding.
Key findings:
- More than three-quarters of respondents believe road victims should receive the same level of support to help them recover, regardless of their location.
- 79% of respondents believe road victim familes should receive the same level of support as families bereaved by homicide.
- Almost half (48%) of respondents said that the National Health Service should take greatest responsibility for delivering support after a road crash.
- 70% of respondents think the Government should take greatest responsibility for funding support for families who have been bereaved or seriously injured from a road crash.
- More than three-quarters (78%) of respondents believe the biggest challenge faced by road victims is overcoming their trauma.
In question 1, we asked respondents about their experiences of support following road crashes.
14% of respondents said that they have supported a family member or friend after a road crash where someone was killed or seriously injured – this rose to 26% of people aged 18-24. 14% of respondents also said that someone in their family has been involved in a road crash where someone was killed or seriously injured – this rose to 27% of 18-24-year-olds.
Almost two-thirds (62%) of respondents said that neither they, nor their family, have been involved in a road crash, nor have they given or received the associated support.
| Q1. Which of the following apply to you? (please tick all that apply) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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In question 2, we asked to what extent respondents agreed or disagreed with a series of statements about access to support following a road crash.
A clear majority of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that families bereaved or seriously injured from a road crash should be able to access emotional (86%) and practical (87%) support to help them recover.
More than three-quarters (79%) of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that families who have been bereaved or seriously injured from a road crash should be able to access the same level of support as families bereaved by homicide.
A further 74% agree that they should be able to access the same level of support as victims of terrorism.
Road crashes cause sudden, unexpected changes in people’s lives. Responses to this question clearly show that people understand the severity and impact of road crashes, and the importance of good post-crash care.
| Q2. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statement? | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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In question 3, we asked respondents whether they believe road crash victims should receive the same level of support, regardless of where they live.
More that three-quarters (77.5%) of respondents believe it is fairly or very important that families who are bereaved or seriously injured by road crashes should have access to the same level and quality of support, regardless of their location.
| Q3. How important is it to you that all families who have been bereaved or seriously injured from a road crash are able to access the same level and quality of support to help them recover, regardless of where they live? | |||||||||||||
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In question 4, we asked who should take greatest responsibility for supporting families after a road crash.
We asked respondents to rank the following from 1 (most responsible) to 7 (least responsible).
- Police and other emergency services
- Government
- National Health Service
- Charities
- Families and friends
- Community services
- Faith leaders
Almost half (48%) of respondents said that the National Health Service should take greatest responsibility for delivering support after a road crash, ranking it either first or second in their responses.
Police and other emergency services was the next most popular choice, ranked first or second by 46% of respondents.
Family and friends were also considered responsible for providing support after a road crash, with more than a third (36%) of repondents ranking them first or second.
| 4. Who do you think should take greatest responsibility for delivering support to families who have been bereaved or seriously injured from a road crash? | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Question 5 asked who should take greatest responsibility for funding post-crash care.
We asked respondents to rank the following from 1 (most responsible) to 7 (least responsible).
- Police and other emergency services
- Government
- National Health Service
- Charities
- Families and friends
- Community services
- Faith leaders
More than two-thirds (70%) of respondents told us that they think the Government should take greatest responsibility for funding support for families who have been bereaved or seriously injured from a road crash, ranking it either first or second.
The National Health Service was also seen as responsible for funding this support, with 43% of respondents ranking it first or second.
There appears to be widespread agreement for road victim support to be publicly funded.
| Q5. Who do you think should take greatest responsibility for funding the support provided to families who have been bereaved or seriously injured from a road crash? | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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In question 6, we asked about the types of support needed by families who have been bereaved or injured from a road crash.
We asked respondents to place the following types of support in order from 1 (most needed) to 5 (least needed).
- Support to help cope with grief and trauma
- Help telling other people what has happened
- Help coping with legal issues
- Help coping with financial issues
- Support to help understand the police investigation and criminal justice process.
Most respondents (90%) ranked 'support to help them cope with grief and trauma' as most important, putting it either first or second. Almost two-thirds (63%) of respondents ranked 'Help telling other people what has happened' as first or second. 'Support to help them understand the police investigation and criminal justice process' was ranked first or second by 60% of respondents.
| 6. What sort of support do you think families who have been bereaved or seriously injured from a road crash need most? | |||||||||||||||||||
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In question 7, we asked if there were any other types of support for road victims that respondents could suggest.
Their answers included:
- Help for families and children to overcome immediate issues, and follow-on support
- Help from their employer
- A list of organisations that can help, alongside up-to-date contact details
- Financial advice, from organisations including Citizens Advice.
The range of answers highlights how there is no 'one-size-fits-all' answer for post-crash care, and while each family bereaved by road crashes is different, the same types and quality of care should be available for everyone.
There is no 'one-size-fits-all' answer for post-crash care
Question 8 asked respondents to consider the biggest challenges faced by families who are bereaved or seriously injured by road crashes.
We asked them to pick their top three from the following:
- Overcoming trauma
- Finding answers to questions
- Court delays
- Long/delayed investigations
- Lack of police family liaison resources
- Media intrusion
- Rebuilding lives
Unsurprisingly, 'Overcoming trauma' is considered the biggest challenge faced by families bereaved in road crashes, ranked first or second by 92% of respondents. 'Rebuilding lives' was suggested as the next biggest challenge, with almost two-thirds (63%) of respondents ranking it first or second.
This highlights the understanding of the sudden, life-changing impact of road crashes, and the areas in which road crash victims might need additional support.
| 8. What do you think is the biggest challenge for families who have been bereaved or seriously injured from a road crash? (pick your top three) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Survey methodology
The research was carried out by SurveyGoo which conducted an online survey among 2,039 respondents across the UK. The sample of adults was randomly selected from our survey panel and weighted to be representative of the UK population for age, gender and region. The margin of error, which measures sampling variability at the country level, was +/- 2.2% at 95% confidence limit. Discrepancies in or between totals are due to rounding. The research was conducted in April 2024.
About SurveyGoo
Survey Panel
SurveyGoo operates an online survey community which consists of a representative sample of the UK population. Panel members are incentivised to take surveys and polls covering a range of topics and subjects for leading UK brands and PR agencies.
The panel is drawn from multiple sources and recruited using a mix of techniques to select unique and responsive members. Targeted recruitment is from authentic sources, including top websites, and web portals. Recruitment is designed to meet the demographic needs of a panel that is representative of the online population of the market.
Recruitment sources include banner advertisements on leading portals and top ranked websites, through referral programs search, content networks, email campaigns and social networking sites.
Focused recruitment activities are planned typically on a quarterly basis, with ongoing low level recruitment activity each month.
Sampling management
SurveyGoo's panel management tool allows them to select ‘census representativity’ on survey send outs and incoming completes. The tool provides correct allocation to achieve proper distribution based on census data. SurveyGoo can create quotas or send out targets to specific target groups.
Survey invites are sent out via email, and all panel members invited have the opportunity to take or decline a survey.
A sample matching the requirements is taken from the panel database. The panelists are sent direct invites at their validated email address with project details. Reminders are sent as per defined conditions. Panelists are provided with details of the reward and interview length. They are given the opportunity to decline the survey and are provided with a link to contact support with any queries relating to the survey.
Panel member incentives
A reward system is operated. The number of points awarded is driven by the length of interview (LOI). On reaching a set redemption level, panelists can redeem their rewards as cash via Pay Pal. Incentive rates have been set to encourage long term participation.
Compliance policies
At the time of panel recruitment, panelists are made aware of the purpose of the panel (i.e. to take part in market research). Each panelist is double-opted in. When invites are sent to panelists, they are notified of the confidential nature of their responses and given the opportunity to ‘opt out’ of the panel. As part of the registration process, panelists are asked to fill out several key profiling questions. Upon confirmation the panelist will receive an automatic email sent directly to the email address they provided in the registration process, allowing them to double opt-in to the panel. The email contains a link within it, as well as a user name and password. The link will direct them back to the panelist site, where the panelist signs in with their username and password.
SurveyGoo's privacy policy is clearly stated for panel members and the company adheres to UK data protection laws.
Researchers are members of the MRS and adhere to research practice In line with ESOMAR guidelines.
Rewards
A reward system is operated. The number of points awarded is driven by the length of interview (LOI). On reaching a set redemption level, panelists can redeem their rewards as cash via Pay Pal. Incentive rates have been set to encourage long-term participation.