Chief Executive Mary Williams spoke at Brake’s Annual Reception with a speech acknowledging the ongoing work of Brake’s National Road Victim Service to support road crash victims, and the charity’s campaigns for change.
In her address, Mary welcomed the recent government announcement of a new Road Safety Investigation Branch, as well as the new 20mph limits across Welsh communities and forthcoming regulatory plans around e-scooters and self-driving vehicles.
The Annual Reception – the first Brake has held since 2019 – also saw Deborah Sleightholme, chair of Brake’s Board of Trustees, speak passionately about the charity’s work and what it means to her.
Minister for Road Safety Baroness Vere spoke about her ongoing work with the Department for Transport to improve road safety in Britain, including the creation of the Road Safety Investigation Branch.
The evening was hosted by Maria Eagle MP, who was previously awarded Brake’s 2019 Parliamentarian of the Year Award for her efforts driving a campaign to ban old tyres on public service vehicles.
Mary Williams, Chief Executive of Brake, said: “It was a huge privilege to stand before Brake supporters after so long without physical events, while also recognising those not able to be with us still, and to thank everyone for the ways they help the charity – their work helping our life-saving cause within their professional roles and communities, and their help funding Brake, enabling us to campaign through partnership and awareness raising, and to care for people bereaved and seriously injured by road crashes through the National Road Victim service.
“Being able to get around our communities, and between places, without fear of death and injury, and in ways that are good for our health and the planet, is everyone’s concern. We must all work together to achieve our shared goal of ending the daily deaths and serious injuries. Our cause cannot be a battle ground between different road users. We must be one people, working together, on one planet, for safe and sustainable solutions that meet all needs.”
