Rebecca Blunstone Project Manager, Road Safety Talks

An Introduction to Road Safety Talks

Road Safety Talks delivers a free of charge presentation to educate children and young adults on the importance of road safety by sharing the personal experience of Lauren Doherty BCAv (left in pic).

11 years ago, Lauren, aged 20 at the time, was involved, as a pedestrian, in a road traffic collision which left her paralysed. Walking home early in the morning from a night out with friends, she crossed the road at the wrong time and was hit by a van.

After 16 months in various hospitals, Lauren has rebuilt her life and since 2016, through the project, has now spoken to over 5,000 children and young adults personally about her experience, her disability and about road safety – as well as reaching thousands of people via social media, newspapers, magazines and radio. She has also received a number of awards for the work she has done over the years.

While the Road Safety Talks project works independently, we also work in collaboration with North Yorkshire Police, North Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service, Harrogate Borough Council, North Yorkshire County Council and the Harrogate & District NHS Foundation Trust, where Lauren helps present as part of their ‘Learn & Live’ campaign. This campaign is aimed at Sixth Form pupils, 16 years plus, who are new to, or currently learning to drive - raising their awareness of the consequences of poor driving and being a passenger in a vehicle driven by a young driver.

Lauren’s hope is that by being open, honest and sharing the impact of making a life-changing, split second decision to cross the road at the wrong time has - not just on your life but on your family and the driver - will help reduce the number of those being seriously injured or killed on the roads.

Road Safety Talks is a registered Charity (Charity Number 1184336) with the Charity Commission for England and Wales.