Every road casualty deserves the highest level of support, says road safety charity Brake, which is putting road casualties at the heart of Road Safety Week this week (November 17-23) .

To mark the beginning of Road Safety Weekthe association’s largest annual road safety campaign, Brake launches new Road Victims’ Charter, demanding essential action to ensure all those affected by road accidents receive respect, support and justice that they deserve.

The Charter calls on the government to set national standards for crash response and commit to extending the rights set out in the Victims’ Code to people affected by road damage, regardless of where they live or if a crime has been committed.

The Road Traffic Victims Charter was written in collaboration with bereaved families, trauma consultants, support staff and professionals from the criminal justice and medical sectors.

It will be launched at a drop-in event for MPs at Westminster today (Monday November 18) at 3pm.

Ross Moorlock, chief executive of Brake, said: “Road casualties are not just statistics. Behind each number is a grieving family whose lives changed forever in an instant.

“Demand on our service continues to grow while the number of road deaths and injuries shows no signs of decreasing. Every year, more and more families suffer the devastating consequences of a road accident. Every year, more and more families come to us in their darkest and most difficult times.

“In comparison, at government level, funding for support for road victims is insufficient. That’s why we, and other charities who 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 a person’s life.

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 to cope with their bereavement and navigate the complex procedures that often follow a road accident, the figures for which should already be even higher. in 2024.

At any given time, around 700 road accident families receive support from Brake, including parents, grandparents, siblings, friends and people who have witnessed a traumatic incident.

Many assisted families have been involved in accidents resulting in multiple deaths, and approximately 7% of assisted cases involve the death of a child. Around 12% of support cases involve someone considered high risk or vulnerable.

Moorlock said: “Every road casualty deserves the highest level of support and for that to happen we need a coordinated approach and national standards that meet best practice in crash response.

“We need multi-year national funding to provide support to the affected road traffic victim community, so that every family has access to trauma-informed face-to-face support within their community, according to its needs.

“Road victims have been forgotten and neglected for too long and this must change.

“Our families have told us what they want and need – and that includes recognition of the trauma of sudden road deaths and injuries, parity with other victim groups, sentences that fit the crime and lessons learned to prevent future road deaths and injuries.

“Until we achieve a world where no one is killed or injured on the roads, we will continue to do everything possible to ensure that all those affected by road deaths and injuries receive respect, the support and justice they deserve. »

Brake also released the results of an opinion poll conducted in April 2024, revealing that 79% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that families bereaved or seriously injured following a road accident should be able to access the same level of support as in the case of homicide. victims.

74% believe they should be able to access the same level of support as victims of terrorism.

More than 3,300 educators, employers, emergency services and others have registered to take part in Road Safety Week 2024, together representing more than four million people.

Brake has provided free resources including lesson plans for schools, social media images, films, posters and a webinar for employers.

Fleet News and Brake will each host webinars during Road Safety Week to help employers and fleets keep their drivers and other road users safe.

Find out more from Fleet News how to minimize costs and ensure driver safety with a robust vehicle accident management strategy.