A special ceremony is being held on Thursday 31 August to remember people bereaved or injured through road crashes.
Organised by RoadPeace North West, it is taking place in the Lady Chapel of Liverpool Anglican Cathedral on St James’ Mount, starting at 2pm.
People can bring flowers or a photo of the person they are remembering which can be placed in the chapel during the event.
After the service, people will go outside and five doves will be released to represent the number of people killed on Britain’s roads every day.
The charity is now in its 25th Anniversary year, and this year also marks 20 years since the death of Diana, Princess of Wales.
The date also marks the anniversary of the world’s first motor vehicle death, Mary Ward in Ireland in 1869. In the same month, Britain’s first road death also occurred, when Bridget Driscoll was killed at Crystal Palace on August 17, 1896. The Coroner at her inquest pronounced “this must never happen again” – yet since then, over half a million people have been killed in crashes in Britain and the current annual global death toll is estimated at over 1.3 million.
Pauline Fielding from Wirral, a trustee of RoadPeace, said: “My son Andrew was killed in a road crash caused by a driver who did not stop and who was never traced.
“Since that day, 23 years ago, I have been fighting for justice for him and to have the road where he died made safer, to help prevent others also experiencing the loss of a loved one.
“The day Andrew died changed my life and that of so many others. I was helped emotionally and practically by RoadPeace and so I urge all those bereaved or injured by road crashes, together with those who support us, to join us at the RoadPeace remembrance and raise awareness to help prevent further death and injury on our roads.
“We are thankful to those who support us and to those who are working hard to reduce the number of people killed on the roads of Merseyside.”
Inspector Mike McFall from Merseyside Police said, “We can never truly understand the impact that road traffic collisions have on families and our communities.
“Every year in Merseyside there are many avoidable and preventable deaths and serious injuries.
“I would appeal to all drivers to stop and reflect on the impact that a collision can have, and to ensure they drive with care to prevent further crashes.”
The event will be attended by the Lord Mayor of Liverpool, Councillor Malcolm Kennedy, and other dignitaries, as well as representatives of the emergency services and organisations which deal with and support road crash victims.
Cllr Kennedy said: “Road crashes have a devastating impact on not just those involved but their families, close friends and emergency service workers.
“This is an important opportunity to remember those affected and make sure we never stop working to make our roads safer.”
The RoadPeace helpline number is 0845 450 0355 and further information is available from www.roadpeace.org
