By Myles Cummins, London Victims’ Voice Campaign Manager

As part of RoadPeace’s National Road Victim Month, today we remember the first pedestrian to be killed by a car. Bridget Driscoll tragically had her life cut short, on this day – August 17 – in 1896.

Her death occurred in Crystal Palace, London – just a few miles from the RoadPeace offices in Brixton. In May, the RoadPeace team paid tribute to Bridget by laying flowers at Crystal Palace during the RoadPeace Challenge 2024 week of action. 

After Bridget’s death, the coroner, Percy Morrison, reportedly said he hoped “such a thing would never happen again.”

Little did anyone know at the time, that this one death would trigger a trend of unnecessary and avoidable road fatalities over the course of the 128 years since this tragic event took place. Even just last year we recorded 95 deaths across all London boroughs. 

It’s clear that the roads of the nation’s capital have grown significantly more dangerous as the years have gone by, and motor vehicles faster and more powerful. This is why we’re working towards the goal of no road deaths on London’s streets from 2030; Vision Zero.  

The positive news is that since its inception, the Vision Zero initiatives have helped to reduce road death and injury – but more still needs to be done. 

Over the coming months, we’ll be increasing our involvement with the Vision Zero Two planning team, working with our partners at Transport for London (TFL), London Assembly and Boroughs, to ensure that we build on all of the work done so far.  

Part of this new plan will involve giving our members, and other crash victims a consistent and sizeable platform to share their experiences and reinforce the argument that still too many people are dying on London’s roads.

We can achieve this goal if we continue to address this serious issue, come together as a city, and work towards Vision Zero together, for the benefit of all Londoners and those who visit the capital.  

To make this happen we need your help, to convince those who aren’t in support of the idea, the public and local politicians alike, that this is the best way to prevent tragic death and injury.

If you’re a road crash victim and would like to be a part of the campaign, to influence decision-makers with your experience, then please contact Myles Cummins, London Victims’ Voice Campaign Manager at myles.cummins@roadpeace.org.

Updated on: 17 August 2024