RoadPeace Challenge 2024: Uniting to Honour UK road crash victims

THE RoadPeace Challenge 2024 will take place from May 13-19, uniting emergency services, bereaved families and communities across the UK in a week of activities designed to raise awareness about the staggering number of people killed in collisions on our roads.

Throughout the week of action, supporters of the event will collectively run, cycle or walk a total of 1,766 miles to honour the 1,766 people reported killed on UK roads in 2022.

Now one of the most significant events in the UK road safety calendar, the RoadPeace Challenge stands out for placing victims’ voices at the forefront of its mission.

Here are some just some of the events taking place:

Police Forces

• Northamptonshire Police: Roads Policing Officer Emilie Bunkall has organised a road safety day in Abington Park on Saturday, May 18
• Leicestershire Police: Throughout the week, the Serious Collision Investigation Unit will be taking part in a range of activities, including cycling and running
• West Yorkshire Police: Throughout the week, officers from the Operational Support Division will run, walk, cycle, and wheel as many miles as possible, with the goal of collectively completing 1,766 miles
• West Mercia Police: Throughout the week, staff will engage in running, dog walking, cycling and swimming, while some officers will participate while on patrol
• Essex Police: Roads Policing Officer Ben Houghton will undertake his second Ride to Remember, cycling one mile for each person killed on Essex roads
• Thames Valley Police: The force is organising a walk and engaging local schools to involve children in the challenge
• South Yorkshire Police: Throughout the week, Roads Policing Sergeant Brandon Brown will run 10k each day during the challenge
• North Yorkshire Police: Throughout the week, officers from across the force will engage in physical activities around North Yorkshire in support of the challenge

Fire and Rescue Services

• London Fire Brigade: Throughout the week, fire officers will engage in physical activities in support of the challenge
• Cheshire Fire & Rescue Service: Events will be held across key stations to support the challenge, as well as working with local campaigners to promote key messages
• Surrey Fire and Rescue Service/National Fire Chiefs’ Council (NFCC): Surrey Chief Fire Officer Dan and NFCC lead for road rescue, Dan Quin, will be cycling 31 miles in honour of the 31 people who were killed on Surrey’s roads in 2022

Local Authorities:

• Warwickshire, Staffordshire, and Derbyshire road safety partnerships: The three partnerships have organised a walk at Hartshill Hayes Country Park, Warwickshire (CV10 0TE) at 1pm on Friday, May 17, 2024 starting and ending at the county’s memorial for road traffic victims. Victims, schools and various other members of the local community have all been invited. Read the press release here. Enquiries can be made directly at warwickshireremembers@warwickshire.gov.uk
• Safer Roads Greater Manchester: Emergency services, road safety professionals, local school children, bereaved families and the public will come together to walk a ‘community mile’ in Heaton Park, Manchester on Thursday, May 16, covering a collective number of miles to commemorate those who lost their lives on UK roads in 2022. Enquiries can be made directly at saferroads.group@tfgm.com
• Sussex Safer Roads Partnership: Throughout the week, staff will track their own miles and a memorial walk has been organised for Monday, May 13

RoadPeace Events:

• RoadPeace London: On Tuesday, May 14, 2024, RoadPeace staff, local members, police and other supports will walk from the RoadPeace office in Brixton to Crystal Palace, the site of the first pedestrian killed by a motor vehicle, Bridget Driscoll, in 1896 (flyer attached)
• RoadPeace South West and the Clevedon Canoe Club: Kate Uzzell, coordinator for the RoadPeace South West local group, has helped to organise kayaking taster sessions taking place on Saturday 18th at the Clevedon Canoe Club. Read more here
• RoadPeace Challenge Finale Event: At 1pm on Sunday May 19, supporters of the RoadPeace Challenge 2024 from across the UK will be walking the final mile of the 1766-mile challenge to bring the week of action to a close. The event will take place at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire (DE13 7AR). More information can be found here

Nick Simmons, CEO of RoadPeace, the national charity for road crash victims, said:  

“We have been overwhelmed by the many organisations and individuals who have committed to taking part in the RoadPeace Challenge this year.

“By uniting emergency services and bereaved families, we honour the memory of the people needlessly killed in crashes and strive towards our shared vision for zero road deaths.

“The RoadPeace Challenge not only amplifies victims’ voices but also brings road danger reduction to the forefront of a national conversation, reminding us that every life lost on the road is one too many.”

Please follow the activities of the RoadPeace Challenge 2024 on social media by following the hashtag – #RoadPeaceChallenge2024

Donations can be made in support of the many people taking part in the RoadPeace Challenge 2024 here: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/roadpeacechallenge.