News and Events

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	RoadPeace Conference 'Improving the response to road death and injury' Monday 7 April 2008 [event] Our conference 'Improving the response to road death and injury' to commemorate 15 years of RoadPeace will be held on Monday 7 April 2008 from 0930 to 1630 at Church House, Dean's Yard, Westminster, London SW1P 3NZ. See conference flyer below. To reserve a place contact RoadPeace, PO Box 2579 London NW10 3PW, tel 020 8838 5102 info@roadpeace.org. http://www.roadpeace.org/events/conference-april-07-2008.pdf
	Petition to change the urban speed limit to 20 mph [news] Please sign a petition to ask the government to change the default urban speed limit from 30mph to 20mph. This low-cost measure can offer a major reduction in road casualties. By offering a clear, simple, national limit, drivers can adjust more easily to driving at a lower speed, than to the present piecemeal arrangements which require expensive traffic calming measures. Research in this country and abroad has clearly shown that a 20mph limit significantly cuts death and injury when applied. A 20mph limit also makes residential and shopping streets more pleasant to walk and cycle in, so cutting carbon emissions and improving health by encouraging people out of their cars. For instance, a recent survey by the Transport Research Laboratory of 20mph zones across the UK and in other European countries found child road collisions fell by 67%, cyclist collisions by 29% and traffic flow by 27%. http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/20limit/
	Angela Hearne running London marathon for RoadPeace [news] Angela Hearne is running the London marathon for RoadPeace. Please sponsor her on her Justgiving website. http://www.justgiving.com/angelahearne
	Karl Bond\'s Campaign [event] Peaceful demonstration to be held on 28th March 2008 on the road were Karl was tragically killed. The event will take place at 4pm on Digmoor Road, Skelmersdale. Supporters of the campaign are welcome to join us. Further information can be obtained from the Campaign website or by contacting karlscampaign@sky.com www.piczo.com/justice4karl
	Marcus Richards running London Marathon for RoadPeace [event] Marcus Richards are raising money for RoadPeace by running the London Marathon on 13 April 2008. Please sponsor him through his fundraising website. http://www.justgiving.com/marcus4roadpeace
	Sarah Holland and Jeff Baker running for RoadPeace [news] Sarah Holland is running the Sheffield half marathon on 27 April 2008 in aid of RoadPeace. Jeff Baker is running the Great West Run half marathon on 4 May 2008. Please sponsor them through their Justgiving sites. http://www.justgiving.com/jeffbaker http://www.justgiving.com/sarahhollandsheffhalf08
	RoadPeace member's PM petition [news] RoadPeace member, Janet Braund, has put up a petition on the Prime Minister's website to warn drivers and riders of a dangerous bend on the road where her son, Bill Martin, was killed while on his motorbike. http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/Bill-Martin/
	Phil Denham cycling for RoadPeace [event] In May this year, Phil Denham will be cycling and camping from Devon to Northern Spain and back. He is collecting money for RoadPeace in memory of the brother of a good friend, Tony Spink, who was knocked off his bike and killed by a lorry driver. Please sponsor him through his website. http://www.justgiving.com/phildenham
	5K fun run in memory of Jo Quail, in Horsham Park 30 August 07 [event] On the 30th of August 2008 Pippa Quail is organising a 5K fun run in Horsham Park in memory of her sister, Jo, who died in a road crash while travelling around Australia, 5 years ago. £10 entry fee for runners. For more details, please email pippa@joquailfunrun.co.uk. http://www.justgiving.com/pippaquail
	Charity Dance for RoadPeace 29 March 08 [event] Jo Paling is organsing a Charity Dance in Solihull, Birmingham on 29 March 2008 in aid of RoadPeace. For more information, see the website. http:/www.charityjive.co.uk
	'Mary-Lou' by Greg Harper, singer song-writer [news] Please see link to the song, 'Mary-Lou' that Greg Harper, a singer song-writer performed at the World Day of Remembrance London service on 18 Novemeber 2007. It is about the lack of justice in road death cases. http://www.gregharpermusic.com
	Release of Mojo Finns' single 'Pinata Face' - all proceeds to RoadPeace [news] In the early hours of Monday 7th May 2007, Jon Chandler, vocalist and guitarist with Brighton based band The Mojo FIns, was killed along with five others in an horrific collision on the M25. Jon, who was just 26, was returning from a stag party weekend held in honour of a friend's forthcoming wedding, at which Jon was due to be best man. The tragedy occurred just one week prior to the scheduled release of the band's debut single 'Pinata Face'. The single was immediately halted by Amazon Records following the devastating news. Jon's family and The Mojo Fins have decided to proceed with the release of Pinata Face on the 10 September 2007 as a tribute to Jon and his music. All royalties from the sale of the record will be donated to RoadPeace. The single also features a bonus track called Between Stations which was remixed by producer and ex-Dubstar member Steve Hillier. With Jon, the Mojo Fins were a self-effacing lot bound together by the simple and joyous love of music. In his absence his memory will live on through the music of The Mojo Fins. The band say, "Music enabled Jon to connect with so many people and this song is a fitting tribute to his exceptional talent both as a songwriter and as a performer". The Mojo Fins are Stephen Brett (Vocals/guitar), Steve Hoile (Bass/keyboards) and Dave Russell (Drums). This release is in loving memory of former vocalist and guitarist Jon Chandler. We hope that you will be able to give the single your full support. http://www.themojofins.co.uk/
	‘Guide’ for World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims' [news] A Guide with suggestions for events to be held on the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims (third Sunday of November), written by RoadPeace and FEVR, and published by the World Health Organisation, was launched in April 2007 to mark the first UN Global Road Safety Week. This Day was adopted by the United Nations on 26 October 2005, since when most countries have started to observe this day and to draw attention to the devastation caused by road deaths and injuries. To help others who want to join, the Guide gives examples of past events and ceremonies organised by RoadPeace and its FEVR sister organizations, and will soon be backed up by a World Day of Remembrance website. The Guide can be found on the link below. http://www.who.int/violence_injury_prevention/road_traffic/activities/remembrance_day_handbook/en/
	Reprint of seminal pamphlet: 'Murder Most Foul A study of the road deaths problem' [event] RoadPeace, with the help of a generous donation from KeyMed, has reprinted the 1947 seminal pamphlet, 'Murder Most Foul: A study of the road deaths problem', written by J S Dean, the then President of the Pedestrians' Association. This was a comprehensive attack on the expectation that vulnerable road users - pedestrians and cyclists, were expected to assume more responsibility for their safety than those who actually posed the harm in motor vehicles. Much of what he highlighted in 1947 is still relevant today, six decades and over a quarter of a million road deaths later. The debate still continues over who should have priority on our roads. Britain's child pedestrian death record is one of the worst in Europe and the most vulnerable - children, pedestrians, cyclists, elderly and disabled people are more likely to be killed on the roads, compared to those in motor vehicles. The book is available for £6 including posting and packing from RoadPeace. Tel 020 8838 5102 or info@roadpeace.org
	RoadPeace's position on motorcyclist safety [news] The RoadPeace position on motorcyclist safety (and RoadPeace's response to the Transport Select Committee's Motorcycle Strategy Consultation). RoadPeace responded to the Transport Select Committee's Motorcycle Strategy Enquiry on 22 January this year. This was followed up by a joint letter, along with many other road user organisations including CTC, the national cyclists' organisation, Sustrans, London Cycling Campaign, Living Streets, Transport 2000 and the Road Danger Reduction Forum, on 1 August to the Committee regarding the government's response to the Committee's report. As the national charity for road crash victims, RoadPeace represents both those who have suffered while motorcycling, as well as those who have been bereaved and injured by motorcyclists. We work to ensure lessons are learned from these tragedies in order to save lives and suffering. We very much support the safety of motorcyclists, as many of our members are bereaved as a result of their loved ones being killed while riding their motorbikes. Given speed’s dominant role in not only causing crashes, but even more importantly - casualty severity outcomes, speed management is of necessity the lead priority for a road crash victim charity, such as ours. Therefore, RoadPeace will continue to address the issue of speeding, including the weight and size (which exacerbate the effects of speeding) of all motor vehicles, and that includes motorcycles. RoadPeace offers emotional and practical support to families of motorcyclists killed and injured in crashes. We also campaign for justice for motorcyclists, including a thorough investigation which is not biased against the motorcyclist, and appropriate prosecution. Our key points on the DfT’s Motorcycle Strategy were: Insufficient reference is given to reducing the risk of motorcycling, especially to other road users, despite the well-known* over-involvement of motorcycles in collisions with pedestrians and cyclists. The DfT’s Motorcycle strategy should be rewritten to properly reflect the risks involved in motorcycling, including those posed to others. It relies too much on education, an unproven strategy, and fails to tackle speeding seriously. *and documented by the DfT. If you would like the see the complete RoadPeace response to the Transport Select Committee's Motorcycle Strategy Enquiry, or our letter to the British Motorcyclists Federation (BMF), please email info@roadpeace.org, and we will be happy to send these to you.
	RedSpeed donation to RoadPeace [news] RoadPeace, the national charity for road crash victims, welcomes the donation of £25,000 by RedSpeed International Limited for for our work of supporting road crash victims, in particular the RoadPeace helpline service.
	RoadPeace welcomes Vatican's Guidelines for Pastoral Care of the Road [news] RoadPeace welcomes the Vatican's publication of Guidelines for the Pastoral Care of the Road. The road is the most likely place where people are responsible for the deaths to others (see note below). The "Ten Commandments for Motorists" include: 1. You shall not kill. 2. The road shall be for you a means of communion between people and not of mortal harm. 3. Courtesy, uprightness and prudence will help you deal with unforseen events. 4. Be charitable and help your neighbour in need, especially victims of accidents. 5. Cars shall not be for you an expression of power and domination, and an occasion of sin. 6. Charitably convince the young and not so young not to driver when they are not in a fitting condition to do so. 7. Support the families of accident victims. 8. Bring guilty motorists and their victims together, at the appropriate time, so that they can undergo the liberating experience of forgiveness. 9. On the road, protect the more vulnerable party. 10. Feel responsible towards others. Note. In 2005 road crashes (1.31m) accounted for twice as many deaths as does (other forms of) violence (593k)and over seven times as many deaths as does war (184k), (WHO, 2006)
	Remember Me plaques and Speed [news] The London safety Camera Partnership is using RoadPeace's Remember Me roadside memorial plaques at all new digital camera sites. The numbers of those killed and injured during the past three years will be written on the plaque, demonstrating the close connection of cameras with road deaths and injuries.
	Remember Me plaques in Manchester [news] Manchester City Council will place a plaque on every site where someone has been killed, to show compassion to the bereaved and highlight road danger. The plaques are to remain in place for at least six months. The A4-size beautiful roadside memorial plaques can of course be placed anywhere in the UK and can be requested from RoadPeace.
	RoadPeace Wood [event] It is part of the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas, Staffordshire, where trees can be planted in memory of loved ones killed in a road crash. On the 2nd Saturday in August a ceremony is held, forming part of the August National Road Victim Month events, but of course people can visit whenever they wish. For more info - see our Contact section..