Derry charity, Life After, to host Road Safety Events in city

For the last five years, Life After has provided vital support to grieving families who have lost a loved one in a road traffic collision.

The charity fights for change on the roads, safer roads, encouraging safer driving and driver responsibility, and strives to bring change to the justice system for those charged with careless driving and driving offences. 

The group continues to protest for stricter sentencing for so-called "killer drivers" across Derry and beyond.

There are 153 families currently utilising their essential network, with some families reaching out over four decades later to cope with their loss.

Next week is Road Safety Week and runs from November 14- November 20. The week is geared towards the promotion of Road safety on a national and local basis. 

The annual event sees many charities and agencies coming together to provide platforms to educate children and adults on the importance of staying safe while using the roads.

Life After co-founder, Christopher Sherrard, who sadly lost his father in August 2016 after he was killed by a driver who fell asleep at the wheel, said: "Since records began in the 1930’s, we have lost over 15,000 loved ones on the roads in Northern Ireland.

"Until the formation of Life After in 2017 by local families, there were no proper support packages in place and no where our families could visit which recognised their loved one and gave them comfort in knowing that they were not forgotten."

On Saturday November 19 there will be a Road Safety Saturday event in Guildhall Square hosted by Life After in conjunction with the Mayor's office; PCSP, CCI, DFI, NIFRS, NIAS, PSNI, NIAA, Sandy Arthur Training Services, Sustrans, Bike General, Triax and CRJ. 
 

Also, on Tuesday November 15, Triax in conjunction with Life After will be hosting a Road Safety Conference in St Mary's Youth Club Creggan, directed at 6th form students.  

At the event the emergency services will be conducting a car crash cut out simulation after which there will be workshops run by Life After, PSNI, The Garda and other agencies.

The event will start at 11am and Sandy Arthur will have some vehicles present so that the general public can get a better understanding of their size and safety measures when driving around them.

There will be stalls at the event promoting Road Safety and providing information on each charity and agency and some Road Safety goodies will be handed out. 

Chirstopher added: "These are events for the whole community and Life After would like to see as many people calling by as possible. Road Safety is everyone's responsibility."

For more information, the charity's Facebook: @LifeAfter