Families 'we need change on our roads to stop others suffering like we do each day'
There's a plea to drivers to be sensible, as families highlight the devastating impact of road traffic accidents
Last updated 16th Aug 2024
Families who've lost loved ones on the roads of Devon and Cornwall have met with police to issue a joint plea to drivers to be sensible.
Last year 48 people died on the roads of Devon and Cornwall and more than 700 were injured. The families aim to highlight what they call 'the true impact' of road accident and dangerous driving, with the family of 31 year old Ryan Saltern also calling for a new 'Ryan's law'.
Assistant Chief Constable Jim Colwell said he hoped the 'conversations will act as a stark reminder to all motorists to look out for other road users'.
During the meeting, Sergeant Samantha Pullen of the Serious Collisions Investigation Team, highlighted the impact on officers of having to deliver the most devastating news about loved ones, adding: "The shock of that news and the trauma that delivers to the officers themselves is huge - nobody wants to be that person (to deliver that news).
"The emotions of the family are absorbed by the police officers and those police officers then have to be supported by their colleagues and the organisation - there are lots of tears in the office."
National Road Victim Month. ) is held annually in August to remember people that have been killed or injured on our roads. RoadPeace say an average of five people are killed and 80 seriously injured each day as a result of collisions on UK roads.
What happened to Ryan Saltern?
Ryan Saltern, 31, died at the scene after he was hit by Wayne Shilling, 39, who was driving home from St Teath carnival in July 2019.
Wayne Shilling was given a four-month suspended sentence, disqualified from driving for 12 months, given an evening curfew for four months and ordered to pay a £207 victim surcharge and prosecution costs.
The family have since been campaigning for the introduction of ‘Ryan’s Law’ that would widen the definition of 'death by dangerous driving' to include failure to stop.
There's more about the campaign in Ryan's name here and a Facebook group here
What happened to Seth Marks?
Seth Marks lost the use of his arms and legs after he was involved in a collision in May 2022. Seth was sat in the rear of the car and wasn’t wearing a seatbelt.
The driver, Harry Brockington, pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving. He also pleaded guilty to driving under the influence of drugs above the specified limit; driving when the alcohol level was above the legal limit, to driving other than in accordance with his driver’s licence, driving without insurance, and to driving a vehicle with defective tyres on the vehicle.
Harry received a two-and-a-half year jail sentence. He has since been released and has taken part in a restorative justice programme with Seth and Julie, which has allowed Harry and Seth to rebuild their friendship.
There is more about the Vision Zero campaign to reduce the number of accidents on the roads of Devon and Cornwall here