World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims
Churches across the diocese will host Remembrance services on Sunday 16 November for families and friends to come together to remember their loved ones killed or injured on our country’s roads.
This year marks the 21st anniversary of the World Day of Remembrance which was first introduced in the UK by road safety campaigners, RoadPeace in 1993.
It offers families and friends an opportunity to come together to remember loved ones, to give thanks to the emergency services and to reflect on what can be done to prevent future deaths.
This year the theme is ‘Speeding Kills – Design out Speeding’. RoadPeace is calling for the use of technologies such as speed limiters and black boxes to be fitted in vehicles, as well as a default urban 20mph limit.
In Barnsley, former police officer turned priest, Fr Paul Cartwright will hold a service at 4pm at St Peter’s, on Doncaster Road which will hear from Tony Davison, the father of Adrian, an 18-year-old boy killed in a road crash after a night out.
While Paul was with the West Yorkshire Police Force, he supported the Davison family as Family Liaison Officer. Since his son’s death, Mr Davison has devoted himself to preventing further loss of young lives on the roads through working with road campaign charity, Brake, West Yorkshire Fire Service, and Leeds City Council.
“Over one million people die in road traffic accidents worldwide every year – the impact on their families and friends is enormous. I want people who have been affected by this to come together, regardless of faith, and take part in an act of remembrance together and if they want, join in prayers for their loved ones,” said Paul.
You can hear Paul speaking on this in the Church Of England's weekly podcast here: http://bit.ly/1EyV7iS
In Halifax, the Minster will hold its Oak Leaf Service to bring together those affected by road traffic collisions during Road Peace Week.
In North Yorkshire, a service for all those who have died on the county's roads will take place at 3pm in Ripon Cathedral. A service will also be held at Leeds Minster at the same time, 3pm next Sunday November 16th.
All people regardless of faith are invited to come along and take part in an act of remembrance, and if they want, join in prayers for their loved ones.
You can hear Fr Paul on BBC Radio Sheffield this Sunday morning on this issue.
Find out more about the work of Roadpeace here:
http://www.roadpeace.org/remembering/world_day_of_remembrance/