It was a privilege for us to attend the Brake ‘After the Crash’ conference in Manchester recently. Brake is a road safety charity working with communities and organisations across the UK to stop the tragedy of road deaths and injuries, make streets and communities safer for everyone, and support people bereaved and seriously injured on roads.
During the conference we heard not only from victims of road traffic collisions and their families, but also other professionals who work tirelessly to help road victims get the support they need.
Despite dealing with injury claims every day, the conference served as a sobering reminder of the devastation each collision can cause. We were moved by the first-hand accounts from bereaved parents and humbled by their strength in campaigning for better road safety. We also heard from the police, air ambulance paramedics, mental health professionals, as well as the national road victim service at Brake. It was clear that everyone in attendance was passionate about road safety, and unified in our desire to offer the best support possible to those affected.
As personal injury solicitors we know the dangers on our roads all too well. Injuries can be catastrophic and life changing. Each incident affects not only the victim but their family and friends too. Road crashes can turn lives upside down. There are many repercussions including physical and psychological injuries, financial hardship, effects on relationships and effects on family life.
We were reminded during the conference that there are, on average, five road deaths every day in the UK, with another 84 victims being seriously injured. Sadly, this is not considered a shocking statistic, but one that is widely accepted. It is clear that lots more must be done to reduce these numbers and increase safety on our roads. We were asked to question what we can do as individuals to help change that, and to start viewing each and every serious road collision as a preventable tragedy, instead of the norm. We were also reminded that we are all responsible for road safety, whether as a driver, cyclist, pedestrian, or other road user. For too long, road users have turned a blind eye to illegalities on our roads, such as exceeding the speed limit, using mobile phones etc. but this needs to change. Will you help to initiate this change by challenging those who break the rules of our roads?
It was a pleasure to be a part of the Brake After the Crash conference and we will continue to support the charity and the work that they do in making our roads a safer place for all.
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