Flowers laid earlier this year in Crystal Palace in memory of Bridget Driscoll, the first UK road crash victim in 1896
Many people are unaware that a routine activity like driving a motor vehicle leads to more fatalities than both murder and terrorism combined.
This is especially tragic, as the majority of road deaths and injuries can be prevented by obeying traffic laws and acting more responsibly on the roads.
In 1998, National Road Victim Month was founded by RoadPeace, the national charity for road crash victims.
National Road Victim Month serves as a poignant reminder to:
- Highlight the staggering number of people killed and injured on the UK’s roads – Every day, five people are killed and around 80 people are seriously injured, on average
- To remember the many people who have been killed needlessly on our roads – Over 500,000 people have been killed on the UK’s roads since records began in 1926
- To show our unwavering support for the many road crash victims and bereaved families who have suffered the tragic loss of a loved one in a road crash
- To honour the work of the emergency services who respond to road crashes day in, day out and acknowledge the mental and physical impact that this has on them
The History of National Road Victim Month
National Road Victim Month was founded by RoadPeace in 1998. August was chosen as the designated month for the annual campaign, in honour of Princess Diana, who was killed in a car crash in Paris on August 31, 1997, and in memory of Bridget Driscoll, the first pedestrian to be killed by a car, in Crystal Palace, London, on August 17, 1896 (pictured above).
The coroner is reported to have said at Bridget Driscoll’s inquest, that he hoped ‘such a thing would never happen again’. Yet since records began in 1926, more than 500,000 people have been killed on the roads in Great Britain.
During the same period, in context, there have been about 375,000 UK citizen deaths due to warfare since 1926 – a period that includes the Second World War, among many other conflicts.
RoadPeace President and Founder Brigitte Chaudhry said of National Road Victim Month: “We want to remember all who have lost their lives prematurely or been injured in a crash, but we want their memories to be the motivation for bringing an end to all preventable cruel road deaths and injuries, so that we do not have new victims to remember in future.”
How to Support National Road Victim Month 2024
- Download our range of graphics created to mark National Road Victim Month 2024 – One can be edited to include your own quotes, facts and pictures (Canva account is required). Use these on social media throughout August to show your support for the campaign. Use the hashtag: #RoadVictimMonth DOWNLOAD OUR SOCIAL MEDIA GRAPHICS HERE
- Create a news story about National Road Victim Month – A suggested news release template announcing your support for National Road Victim Month 2024 can be found on the RoadPeace website: DOWNLOAD OUR NEWS RELEASE TEMPLATE HERE
- Other ways to support National Road Victim Month 2024:
– Create your own social media campaign – featuring quotes from police officers, firefighters, doctors, road crash victims etc in your own local area, using our National Road Victim Month branded, editable template
– Create a localised news story featuring a local road crash victim or bereaved family – If you would like to trace a victim in your area please contact RoadPeace as we may be able to help. Email info@roadpeace.org
– Hold a local memorial event to remember those who have been killed or injured in crashes in your area
– Please promote RoadPeace, our helpline and support services among your local communities to ensure that as many people as possible can have access to our support
– Make a donation to RoadPeace to enable us to continue to offer our helpline and support groups, which are a lifeline for many victims. Please donate here
Thank you to all of our supporters for everything you do
