The London Road Safety Council (LRSC) is making an urgent appeal for help, with the future of the 108-year-old organisation at risk due to a lack of funding.
The LRSC (at the time known as the London Accident Prevention Council) was founded in 1916. The Council is unique in that its membership comprises elected council members and professional road safety officers from across the London boroughs and the City of London Corporation.
Since formation, LRSC has helped reduce the number of casualties on the Capital’s roads by producing and promoting resources and publicity materials, and providing a forum to discuss road safety issues.
Over the last 100 years the LRSC has been responsible for a host of campaigns including the iconic post World War 2 ‘Keep Death off the Roads’ poster, which featured a widow in mourning. This campaign caused considerable controversy at the time with some road safety groups believing it to be too shocking for public display.
LRSC was also responsible for the ‘Caring Parent’ campaign, which launched in 1987. Approximately five million copies of the campaign booklet were purchased by local authorities and other organisations, in London and across the United Kingdom.
More recently, the ‘It’s a Jungle Out There’ campaign helped improve awareness of road safety among Year 6 pupils who are about to transition from primary to secondary school.
Alison Gowman, Chair of the LRSC said: “Due to a lack of funding, there is a significant risk the LRSC could fold in the near future.
“That’s why we are making this appeal for financial help to carry on the vital work to improve road safety in the Capital.
“The money required for LRSC to continue to function is relatively modest, and we are really hoping that a benefactor will come forward and help us out of our current predicament – so we can continue our vital work for another 100 plus years.”
Data shows there were 23,465 reported collisions in London in 2022, resulting in 102 people being killed, 3,859 being seriously injured and 23,246 being slightly injured.
Anyone interested in finding out more should contact lrsc.wbricethompson17@gmail.com
11 March 2024