Paul Wenham-Clarke first reached out to RoadPeace with the idea of creating a photographic project focussing on the consequences of road deaths as a significant social issue. Together, they collaborated to produce these two powerful exhibitions.
RoadPeace is the national charity for road crash victims in the UK. They provide information and support services to people bereaved or seriously injured in road crashes and engage in evidence based policy and campaigning work to fight for justice for victims and reduce road danger.
Founded in 1992 by Brigitte Chaudhry MBE (MBE awarded in 2003 for her pioneering work for road crash victims), a bereaved mother whose son was killed by a red light offender. RoadPeace is a membership organisation whose work is informed by the needs and experiences of road crash victims. RoadPeace is governed by a board of trustees, has a small staff team and a network of active members and volunteers.
Brigitte Chaudhry MBE Founder & President of RoadPeace
Brigitte Chaudhry founded RoadPeace after her 26-year-old son, Mansoor, was killed on 27th October 1990 by a red light violator, who was only fined £250 for ‘a minor traffic offence.’
RoadPeace began its official work for road crash victims on 8th February 1992 with the launch of the first ever helpline for road crash victims, offering vital information and support based on experience, empathy and understanding.
It was available for the first six years 24/7.
The main role of RoadPeace was to champion the rights of road crash victims, ensuring that they receive acknowledgement and justice and that lessons are learnt for the future.
The four-page leaflet ‘RoadPeace’s pioneering work: 15 examples from the first 15 years’ provides testimony to her important work, much of which is still carried on.
In March 2003, Brigitte was awarded an Honorary MBE for her pioneering work for road crash victims, presented to her by Lord Charlie Falconer, then Minister for Victims, at a celebration in the House of Commons attended by many MPs and friends of RoadPeace.
Brigitte has also worked at international level throughout her 30 years of campaigning work as an active delegate of the European Federation of Road Traffic Victims (FEVR) from 1993, including as a contributor and co-editor of the study Impact of Road Death and Injury and as the Initiator of the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims in 1995.
The United Nations (UN) formally acknowledged the day and invited member states and the international community to recognise it.
As FEVR’s President from 2004 – 2010, Brigitte worked with the European Union, World Health Organization and UN.
She was the author and editor of the World Day website from 2008 – 2017 and co-founder of the World Day of Remembrance Foundation in 2021.
In her roles of President and Trustee, Brigitte is still part of the current RoadPeace Board.
The story of RoadPeace’s Red Flag, pictured behind Brigitte Chaudhry.
An art student from Sheffield Hallam University called Jonty Semper contacted me in 2000 with an idea for artwork he thought would assist with our campaigning.
I liked this idea and promised to help, and this is how the Red Flag came to be created.
The Locomotive Act of 1865, also known as the Red Flag Act, stipulated that any self-propelled road vehicle had to be preceded by a person walking at least 60 yards ahead, carrying a red flag.
On 14 November 1896, a new Act of Parliament in the UK ensured that horseless carriages no longer required a man carrying a red flag to walk in front of them.
The Earl of Winchilsea, who was a great motoring enthusiast, symbolically tore a red flag in two at the start of the London to Brighton Car Run on 14th November 1896, on the steps of the old Metropole Hotel.
Jonty Semper wanted to put RoadPeace’s Red Flag together from pieces donated by bereaved people, as testimony to loss and protest.
Many RoadPeace members provided pieces for Jonty’s flag, which became his graduation piece and was exhibited at Sheffield Hallam University.
For two years afterwards, the flag was exhibited at the Glasgow Museum of Transport.
In 2003, RoadPeace exhibited it at the House of Commons together with several other exhibits.
From January to March 2004, the Red Flag was once again exhibited by Jonty Semper, this time at the Bowes Museum in Barnard Castle - as part of the After Life: Death. Remembrance. Redundancy. Reanimation exhibition.
At the time of creating the Red Flag, we had plans to create similar regional flags. I wrote that it just needed an energetic person to take this project in hand. This person is still needed.
Board of Trustees
The Trustees have all experienced the devastation road crashes can cause.
"I was involved in a tragic crash on my seventh birthday, it killed both my parents. This left me disorientated and alone. Family, friends and the local community rallied around, I felt loved. This gave me the strength to move from victim, to survivor and then thriver. I joined the boa board of RoadPeace to move it forward, to offer hope for families of crash victims and crash survivors. Grief does not diminish in size, but over time we can build around that loss with love, connection and purpose. Out of the darkness of tragedy, humanity shines bright."
David Frost, Trustee.
Back: Cynthia Barlow, David Frost, Board Secretary, Nic Atkinson, Alex Swann
Front: CEO Nick Simmons, RoadPeace Founder Brigitte Chaudhry, Chair Petra Kendall-Raynor.