Redditch park display shares faces behind road death statistics
A woman who lost her brother in a road collision 10 years ago is hoping a display in her home town will get people talking about the devastating impact of road deaths.Lucy Harrison now works for Road Peace, a charity which works for the victims of crashes and their families, and said she wanted to "remind everyone that victims are more than statistics".Peace in the Park was installed at Arrow Valley Country Park in Redditch on Monday and features doves bearing pictures of those killed in road traffic collisions. They were created by young people who have been involved in driving crime, 40 families who have been bereaved through road crashes and Road Peace partner CFG.
Ms Harrison said: "Redditch is my home town, so it is especially poignant for me – but also for our group members whose loved ones were killed on roads in Worcestershire."The display, which first went on display in Birmingham last year, is also due to visit Malvern and Hereford and has been supported by the West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner, John Campion.On Saturday, members of the Road Peace team are due to be at the Boathouse Café between 11:00 and 14:00 BST, along with the families of some of those remembered on the doves.Ms Harrison said she hoped people looking at the photos would "see the faces behind the statistics" and understand the lasting effect these deaths and serious injuries have on families.
In 2014, Ms Harrison's brother was killed at a crossing by a driver who was speeding.She said "it completely changed my life", and the support she received from Road Peace eventually led to her leaving her job to work for them instead.But she added: "I've worked with so many families now and 10 years after my brother was killed it's the same stories, it's the same tragedies, the same frustrations."She said she was worried the numbers of road deaths had plateaued and that people "accept it as something which is inevitable when its not".Peace in the Park will remain in Redditch until 27 May, and Ms Harrison said that, beyond raising awareness, she wanted to see better support for victims and more done to prevent crashes.
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