- 1,695 people died on UK roads in 2023 and 28,967 were seriously injured.
- Every road victim deserves respect, support and justice says Brake at launch of new Road Victims’ Charter demanding essential action for road victims.
- Brake reveals that its National Road Victim Service supported more than 1,500 families in 2023.
- New National Centre of Excellence for Post-Crash Support will provide enhanced professional post-crash support for road victim families.
- 25 MPs attended a launch event in Westminster on Monday 18 November to learn more about the charter.
Road Victims’ Charter calls for respect, support and justice for every road victim
Yesterday (Monday 18 November), Brake launched a new Road Victims’ Charter demanding essential actions to ensure that everyone affected by road crashes receives the respect, support and justice they deserve. Brake launched the Charter at a drop-in event for MPs at Portcullis House in Westminster, hosted by Julia Buckley, Labour MP for Shrewsbury (pictured above with Lucy Straker, campaigns manager at Brake). The launch was attended by 25 MPs, including Judith Cummins, MP for Bradford South, and Caroline Nokes, MP for Romsey and Southampton North, who met with road victims and talked to Brake staff to learn more about the Road Victims’ Charter.
The Charter includes a call for Government to establish national standards in post-crash response, and commit to extending the rights set out in the Victims' Code to those impacted by road harm, regardless of where they live or whether a crime has occurred.
It also calls for recognition of the trauma of sudden road death and injury; parity with other victim groups; accessible, trauma-informed support; robust and consistent justice; lessons learned to prevent future death and injury; and use of appropriate language when reporting road death and injury.
The Road Victims’ Charter was written in collaboration with bereaved families, trauma consultants, support staff and professionals from across the criminal justice and medical sectors.
Road deaths and serious injuries show no significant signs of reduction for more than five years
The latest government road casualty statistics show that, in 2023, 1,695 people died on UK roads and a further 28,967 were seriously injured. Road deaths and serious injuries have shown no significant signs of reduction for more than five years [1,2].
Brake has also revealed that over the same period in 2023, the charity’s National Road Victim Service provided specialist emotional and practical support to more than 1,500 families across the UK, helping them cope with their grief and navigate the complex procedures that often follow a road crash, with numbers already set to be even higher in 2024.
National Centre of Excellence for Post-Crash Support
From 2025 onwards, road victim families will also be able to benefit from enhanced professional post-crash support, thanks to the establishment of a new National Centre of Excellence for Post-Crash Support run by Brake. The first UK-based centre to offer such support, the National Centre of Excellence for Post-Crash Support will focus on two main areas:
- A commissioned consultancy service offering expert guidance to organisations and practitioners to help them integrate and deliver a trauma-informed response to victims and their families.
- A commitment to research and developing knowledge supporting the development of trauma-informed approaches to research in the field of post-crash support and promoting opportunities to ensure that lived experiences and the voices of victims and their families are heard, understood and inform practice.
Every road victim deserves the very highest standard of support, and for that to happen we need a coordinated approach and national standards that meet best practice for post-crash response
Ross Moorlock, chief executive, Brake
Ross Moorlock, Chief Executive at Brake, said: “Road casualties are not just statistics. Behind every number is a grief-stricken family whose lives have been changed forever in an instant.
“The demand on our service continues to grow as road deaths and injuries show no sign of reducing. Every year, more families suffer the devastating impact of a road crash. Every year, more and more families come to us in their darkest and most difficult times.
“By comparison, at a Government level, funding for support for road victims is inadequate – so we and other charities that care for bereaved and seriously injured families rely on the generosity of other supporters to fund our vital work. We know that the right support at the right time can change the course of someone’s life.
“Every road victim deserves the very highest standard of support, and for that to happen we need a coordinated approach and national standards that meet best practice for post-crash response. We need national, multi-year funding, so that every road victim family has access to trauma-informed, face-to-face support within their community, according to their needs.
“Our families tell us that as road victims, they feel they aren’t taken seriously enough and their trauma is often overlooked. They feel that the lifelong impact of road deaths and injuries often feels like an afterthought to the criminal justice system. We also know they find it difficult to assimilate information and make decisions when grieving, their professional life is often severely impacted, and access to support is a postcode lottery.
“Road victims have been the forgotten and neglected victims for far too long and that has to change. We are proud to stand with every family who has been affected by road death and injury as we launch this important Charter, and we are delighted to be able to offer enhanced professional support through our new National Centre of Excellence for Post-Crash Support.
“I am also pleased to announce that Brake is also entering a new partnership with IMPACT, the Centre for Post Collision Research, Innovation and Translation. We look forward to working more closely with the IMPACT team and exploring opportunities to support their important research.”
Seven million people engage with important road safety messages during Road Safety Week 2024
More than 3,800 educators, employers, emergency services and others have signed up to take part in Road Safety Week 2024, together representing more than seven million people. Brake has provided free resources including lesson plans for schools, social media images, films, posters and a webinar for employers.
Road Safety Week is Brake’s biggest annual campaign. This year, the campaign aims to raise awareness of the devastating impact of road crashes on everyone involved, and celebrate the incredible work of people who provide support after a crash. For Road Safety Week 2024, Brake is counting the real cost of road crashes, revealing the stories behind the numbers and calling for the very highest standard of care for every road victim.
The campaign runs from 17–23 November, and began on Sunday 17 November to mark the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims.
Road Safety Week 2024 is delivered by Brake and sponsored by Autoglass®.
Amy Shuffleton, Head of Responsible Business and Internal Communications at Autoglass®, said: “Autoglass is proud to support Brake’s Road Safety Week for the second year running, raising awareness that aligns with our zero-harm ambitions and fosters our culture of care. The focus on road victims is a necessary and important one, and we hope our support goes some way to helping create safer roads for all. Our dedication extends beyond our core services and we are committed to ensuring the safety of our customers, colleagues, and communities."
To sign up and take part, go to www.brake.org.uk/roadsafetyweek.
References
- Department for Transport (2024) Reported road casualties Great Britain, annual report: 2023 and supporting data sets.
- Police Service of Northern Ireland (2024) Road traffic collision statistics.
About Autoglass®
Autoglass® is the UK's leading specialist for vehicle glass repair, replacement, and recalibration (VGRRR) services, with unrivalled expertise in Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS). With an extensive nationwide network of over 1,000 skilled technicians, we take pride in providing world-class service to motorists across the country. Autoglass® exists to make a difference with real care - by providing exceptional customer service at every touch point, being an ambassador for road safety, and a thought leader in the sector, we’ve become one of the UK’s most trusted service brands. Autoglass® partners with leading insurance, fleet, and lease companies, spanning a broad spectrum of industries, and our tailored glass repair, replacement, and recalibration services cater to the unique needs of each client, providing their customers with reliable and efficient experiences.