Support gathers for this year’s RoadPeace challenge

The UK’s top roads policing and road rescue chiefs are putting their collective force behind this year’s RoadPeace challenge. RoadPeace is the national charity for road crash victims in the UK. It supports the people affected by road crashes with emotional and practical support and advocacy.

Each year it holds the RoadPeace Challenge to send out a strong message to the public that road crashes can no longer be tolerated as inevitable and that the emergency services are committed to reducing road deaths and injuries, together.

This year’s event takes place between 15-21 May, coinciding with UN Global Road Safety Week.

Jo Shiner, the National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for roads policing (pictured below) and Dan Quin, the National Fire Chief Council’s road safety and road rescue teams lead, are backing the campaign. As well as being the most senior roads policing officer in the UK, chief constable Jo Shiner also knows the personal impact of road crashes. Her father was killed in a collision on his way to work after another driver fell asleep at the wheel, when she was a teenager.

She said: “We must continue to work together to reduce death and serious injury on our roads. I know what it means to have a loved one killed on the roads and am passionate about reducing the number of families that suffer that immense, avoidable and lasting loss.”

Dan Quin added: “Deaths and serious injuries on our roads are devastating tragedies which impact on individuals, families and communities. These incidents can leave an indelible impression on emergency responders. Signing up to the RoadPeace Challenge is a great opportunity for fire and rescue services, their partners and blue light colleagues to unite against road harm and support Vision Zero.”

Today (15 May) also sees the start of the UN’s Global Road Safety Week and the Project EDWARD week of action.