Fuel Card News Motoring Updates: More support needed for those suffering from road crashes

Road safety charity, Brake, is appealing to the government to increase support for suffering road crash victims.

The campaign is being launched today (4 July) at a reception in Parliament with support from Leigh Day and Co solicitors and families who have faced the tragedy of a road crash.

Last week the government released statistics showing the number of people killed or seriously injured on British roads has risen for the first time in 17 years.

Julie Townsend, Brake Deputy Chief Executive, said: “While victims of burglary are automatically offered face-to-face support funded by government, there is no such offer for bereaved and seriously injured crash victims. 

“It is vital the government recognises the profound needs of road crash victims, and their right to appropriate support, given that they are suffering due to man-made, preventable and often criminal events. “

For every £10 spent on homicide support, less than £1 is spent on supporting bereaved road crime victims which Brake argues is highly disproportionate considering there are far more deaths on roads than homicides and families are forced to face similar acute suffering.

On Monday (2 July) the government announced plans to inject £50 million in improving support for victims. Although Brake welcomes the move, it is urging the government to invest additional funding from planned increases in fines for traffic offenders into victim support.

In other news, new tyres are to be sold with a colour-coded sticker to better inform drivers on how safe and efficient the tyres are.

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