World Day of Remembrance Service for Road Traffic Victims

Have you or someone you know experienced the devastation of a road traffic collision? Next Sunday (November 17), a special memorial service to remember those who have been killed or seriously injured on our roads is being held in Northampton.

World Day of Remembrance Service for Road Traffic Victims is held each year as a mark of respect to those who have tragically lost their lives or have suffered life-changing injuries in a collision.

A service to remember the county’s road traffic victims will be held at 3pm on Sunday, November 17, at The Holy Sepulchre Church in Sheep Street, Northampton, and will include readings, poetry, and music from the Northamptonshire Music and Performance Arts Trust.

The 60-minute service will also include an act of remembrance with photos and names shared of those road traffic victims along with the reading of messages from loved ones who have been left behind.

Following the service there will be refreshments and an opportunity for those impacted by a road traffic collision to further commemorate their loved ones and share their experience and stories.

Organised by Northampton road safety campaigners Nicole and Chris Taylor, who sadly lost their 18-year-old daughter Beccy in a road collision in 2008, in conjunction with RoadPeace, the event is open to anyone who wishes to attend.

Roads Policing and family liaison officer PC Emilie Bunkall will be among the congregation to not only represent Northamptonshire Police but to also remember her mum Julie, who was tragically killed in a collision on the A6 at Burton Latimer in 2013.

Emilie said: “On June 6, 2013, my world shattered when on duty, I heard over the police radio that my beautiful mum had been killed in a collision. I found myself walking in the footsteps of the families I had supported, and for the first time truly felt their heartbreak.

“As you can imagine this was heart-breaking and life-changing for us all. The trauma and day-to-day reality were far harder than I had ever imagined however it’s this personal experience which drives me on to raise awareness of the road death endemic in the UK.

“In Northamptonshire alone, 1,589 people were injured on our roads last year however, this does not reflect the true cost of road collisions in the county. For every casualty, there are many more people who have also had their lives changed forever.

“World Day of Remembrance Service for Road Traffic Victims provides an opportunity to show that those who have been killed or seriously injured on our roads are more than just a statistic and that they are not forgotten.”

Started in the UK by national charity RoadPeace in 1993, the annual event not only supports people in remembering their loved ones but also commends the vital work of those who provide help and support in the aftermath of a crash.

In 2005, it became a global commemorative day when the United Nations General Assembly called on all member states to adopt and recognise the third Sunday in November to raise awareness of the consequences and costs of road crashes.

If you would like to attend and have something read out, please arrive at this year's service half an hour before it is due to start and approach the organiser who can help arrange something.