Support for bereaved families and seriously injured survivors of road traffic collisions

Caroline Russell AM moved and Zack Polanski AM seconded the following budget related motion:

“This Assembly notes:

• the 20,989 reported collisions in London in 2024, resulting in 110 people being killed, 3,597 being seriously injured and 20,312 being slightly injured.
• the sudden closure of the national charity for road crash victims, RoadPeace on 9 January 2026, ending more than 30 years of tailored, trauma-informed support to bereaved families and seriously injured survivors of road traffic collisions.
• this has created a gap in London, as there are very few charities providing specific peer-to-peer support to people navigating the post-crash experience, collision investigation and judicial processes.
• from the recent year of accounts submitted by RoadPeace, its nationwide expenditure was £459,000 per annum, with the London costs mostly covered by grants for specific projects from charitable trusts, the Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC) and Transport for London (TfL).

This Assembly further notes:

• that in 2024, the Assembly passed a unanimous motion recognising Road Safety Week, calling on the Mayor to engage with road danger reduction campaigners and charities, support their demands for the establishment of a Road Safety Investigation Branch, and urgently prioritise bringing forward Vision Zero Action Plan 2.
• that in 2022, the Assembly passed a unanimous motion calling on all Londoners to recognise World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims.

This Assembly recognises the importance of the emotional and practical support for London crash victims that has been provided by trained volunteers who have lived experience of a fatal or serious collision over the last thirty years.

This Assembly therefore calls on the Mayor, in his final draft consolidated budget for 2026-27, to commission and fund services to ensure that bereaved families and seriously injured survivors of road traffic collisions in London are able to continue to receive tailored support and advocacy to help them through the aftermath of a serious crash.”

Following debate, and upon being put to a vote, the motion was agreed with 12 votes being cast in favour and 0 votes being cast against.