'Letter Tree' from families of road crash victims launches new safety campaign

A new Letter Tree bearing heartbreaking personal messages from families whose loved ones had their lives taken in road collisions has been unveiled by Mayor Richard Parker to mark Road Safety Week.

The tree has been created by Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) in partnership with RoadPeace (the national charity for road crash victims), police and local councils to give people the chance to read the letters and see for themselves the impact dangerous and reckless driving has on families.

It is on display in Brindleyplace, Birmingham until Sunday, November 23 and will then tour the region until February 2026.

The unveiling also marked the launch of a powerful social media campaign, Zero Tolerance to Road Harm, featuring mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, sons and daughters reading personal messages to their lost loved ones or the drivers responsible for taking their lives. It builds on an award-winning campaign last year which also featured bereaved families.

One of the letters on the tree, from Diane, speaks to the driver who killed her husband. It says: “The day you killed my husband, Martyn, Dad to our two girls, has forever changed our lives. Your actions of looking at your phone instead of the road ahead has had lifelong consequences for us all. Martyn has missed our girls’ milestones and becoming a grandad for the first time.”

Another, written by Lucy to her brother Peter who was killed by a hit-and-run driver, says: “I wonder what you would be like, but I cannot know – we will never know, because your potential was wiped out by a driver. I have never stopped missing you.”

Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands, said: “These personal messages show the devastation caused to families by those who drive dangerously or carelessly on our roads. It’s been humbling to meet these families, and I thank them for their work on this crucial campaign.

“I’d urge every driver to take the time to read these letters and reflect on their own habits behind the wheel, and the things we could all be doing to make our journeys safer.

“I’ve made road safety a top priority because one life lost in this way is one too many. We will not rest until our streets are truly safe for everyone.”

 

TfWM, which is part of the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), is working with a wide range of organisations, including police, the fire service and councils through the West Midlands Road Safety Partnership. The partnership has committed to reduce the numbers of people killed or seriously injured on our streets by half by 2030 and last November set out a detailed action plan to deliver that.

Lucy Harrison, RoadPeace’s justice and outreach manager and West Midlands Group coordinator, said: “As bereaved families it is too late for us, but we can try and spare others. We are grateful to TfWM for this opportunity to collaborate and to tell our stories – we hope our loss will provoke others to think and change their behaviour. The family members who have taken part are the definition of courage.”

Mat MacDonald, West Midlands Road Safety Commissioner, added: “What the letter tree shows us is the sheer scale of grief, loss and suffering that collisions on our road network cause. The bravery of those left behind in contributing to this project is simply breathtaking. Their words must galvanise our efforts to create safer streets, not only for those who we have lost, but also for brighter futures yet unlived.”

Mike O’Hara, Assistant Chief Constable, West Midlands Police, who oversees roads policing in the West Midlands, said: “The Letter Tree is a powerful and poignant piece of work that captures the devastating impact deaths on the roads have on families and communities. Together with our partners, we are committed to reducing fatalities and serious injuries on our roads. We have increased patrols and invested in education and prevention initiatives aimed at improving road safety for all. Our approach is guided by the Road Safety Strategy, ensuring that every action we take prioritises the safety of all road users. Together, we will continue to make our roads and communities safer.”

Simon Foster, West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner, added: "Behind every single letter is a family whose lives have been shattered forever. I commend the courage of victims who have shared their stories. I want to assure them that their voices are heard. I stand in solidarity with them and the incredible work of RoadPeace, who tirelessly support victims and campaign for change.

"Ever since I was first elected as Police and Crime Commissioner in 2021, road safety has been and remains a top priority. We will continue to take a robust approach and hold people who carelessly and recklessly put other people’s lives at risk accountable for their actions.

“We owe it to all victims and their families to strive for a future where such a tree is no longer necessary, where every journey is a safe journey, and where we achieve our shared goal of Vision Zero - eliminating  road deaths and serious injuries in the West Midlands by 2040."

Cllr Majid Mahmood, Birmingham City Council cabinet member for environment and transport, said: “The council declared a road safety emergency because we must do whatever it takes to make roads safer for everyone. It is not acceptable to drive in a way that could harm others, and these personal messages really emphasise the devastation caused.

“We are already taking action, including setting a maximum speed limit of 30mph on virtually all roads, adding more average speed cameras, and running the Safer Streets and School Journeys programmes. Our road harm reduction strategy requires us to reduce the number of motor vehicles on our roads, and we will continue working with all partners and communities to achieve safer roads."

Matt Long, senior asset manager, Praxis at Brindleyplace, said: “Brindleyplace is honoured to be able to support this important initiative by hosting the launch of the Letter Tree and helping to raise awareness for the Zero Tolerance to Road Harm social media campaign.”