Caroline Russell AM speaks up for victims of road collisions, presses Mayor on road danger and Vision Zero

Given the urgent need to rapidly reduce road danger to achieve London’s Vision Zero targets, Caroline Russell AM pressed the Mayor on his confidence that enough is being done. [1] 

In response, the Mayor highlighted the positive step the Mayor’s Office for Police and Crime (MOPAC), the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) and Transport for London (TfL) have taken by working more closely on Vision Zero, including the piloting of a new support service for victims of road traffic collisions and their families. [2] 

Following Mayor’s Question Time, Green Party London Assembly Member Caroline Russell said: 

“Vision Zero is not just a responsibility for Transport for London. I’ve long called on the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) to be proactive in their role to make streets in London safer, particularly for people walking and cycling. 

“After years of campaigning, it is encouraging that MOPAC and the Met recognise their roles and responsibilities in achieving Vision Zero, an overdue culture shift that can be owed in part to the tireless advocacy of so many victims and their families. 

“The immediate aftermath of a collision can be a harrowing and horrendous experience, campaigners have now been heard by the Mayor and I hope the new pilot scheme provides a real support service for victims of road traffic collisions and their families. 

“There is still so much more that can be done to reduce road danger and achieve vision zero. I will continue to advocate for more care and attention to be dedicated to those Londoners whose lives have been forever changed by road collisions, and to the changes that can prevent these avoidable collisions.” 

To view Caroline Russell AM’s full exchange with the Mayor, click here. 

In September 2021, Caroline Russell AM called on London’s Mayor to find a way to publicly remember the people who have lost their lives on London’s roads at future London Assembly meetings. As a direct result of Caroline’s advocacy, on 01 December 2022 the Assembly held the first annual minute’s silence to pay its respects for lives lost on our roads over the past year, and the Mayor agreed to hosting a roundtable to hear from road death victims.   

In July 2022, Assembly Member Russell urged the Mayor to investigate more serious collisions to meet Vision Zero.  

Later that autumn, Caroline again inquired as to when the Mayor’s office would close its gap in support for bereaved families and road collision victims.  

Most recently, earlier in 2023 Caroline asked the Mayor directly if MOPAC’s London Victim and Witness Service could provide more targeted support for families who are bereaved by road traffic collisions.