The power of real-life stories in road safety campaigns: Why victims’ voices matter

Frankie Julia Hough (left) and Caitlin Huddleston live on through their loved ones' efforts to create safer roads

Road safety campaigns often rely heavily on statistics - numbers that reflect the devastating toll of road deaths and injuries. But as the stories of those affected by these tragedies show, statistics can never truly capture the pain, grief and life-altering consequences of losing a loved one.

For this reason, the inclusion of real-life stories is essential. These stories bring a raw, human element that resonates with the public, sparking empathy, understanding, and ultimately, change.

Two voices that highlight this truth are Sharron Huddleston and Calvin Buckley. Both have experienced unspeakable loss due to road traffic collisions. Their stories, shared time and time again, are not just about the pain of their loss - they’re a call to action, a plea for the government and society to do better and save future lives.

Sharron Huddleston’s story: A mother’s campaign for change

In 2017, Sharron's 18-year-old daughter, Caitlin, was killed in a crash caused by a newly qualified driver. Caitlin was a passenger in the car when the inexperienced driver lost control, and both young lives were tragically taken. This experience turned Sharron into a passionate advocate for Graduated Driving Licensing (GDL), a system that she believes could have saved her daughter’s life.

As Sharron explains, real-life stories like hers make a profound difference in road safety campaigns:

"I think it makes a real difference to include victims’ voices. It helps society understand the real-life, devastating impact of the sudden, horrific loss of a loved one in a road traffic collision on bereaved families, for the rest of their lives. Showing photos of the victim is more impactful than just talking about statistics of road traffic collisions."

Sharron’s willingness to share Caitlin’s story, despite the emotional toll it takes, is a powerful reminder of why these stories need to be heard. She continues to campaign tirelessly, not just for her daughter but for every young life lost in preventable crashes. She urges parents to understand the risks, to not let their children ride with newly qualified drivers and to push for systemic change in the driving licence laws that continue to fail young people.

Calvin Buckley’s story: Honouring his partner and unborn child

Calvin Buckley’s grief is immeasurable. In May 2023, his partner, Frankie Julia Hough, was killed by a speeding driver while she was 17 weeks' pregnant with their daughter, Neeve. Since that day, Calvin’s life has been changed forever. But instead of retreating into silence, Calvin has bravely shared his story with various audiences, from police conferences to national TV news outlets.

Calvin explains why it is important for him to share such a painful experience:

"I chose to share my story because I don’t want it to be your story. I’ve been through hell and relive it daily. I hope it makes people think and saves them from experiencing the same pain and suffering. It’s important for people to realise that it could happen to them, just like it happened to me."

Through his heartbreak, Calvin has become an advocate for road safety, highlighting the real impact of road crime on families and loved ones. He shares his story to remind people that road deaths are not just numbers - they are lives, and they affect everyone around them. He hopes that by speaking out, he can encourage others to share their experiences, creating a collective movement that will resonate with decision-makers and push for policies that save lives.

The impact of real-life stories in road safety campaigns

Both Sharron and Calvin’s stories highlight the deep emotional impact that real-life accounts of road harm have on public consciousness. Statistics are important, but they don’t show the faces of those left behind. Real-life stories paint a vivid picture of the toll that road traffic collisions take - not just on those directly involved but on entire families, communities and society at large.

As Sharron and Calvin continue to share their personal experiences, they show us the immense power of vulnerability in road safety campaigns. By giving a face and a name to the statistics, they make the issue more real, more urgent and more impossible to ignore. They remind us that road safety isn’t just about reducing numbers; it’s about saving people, families and futures.

Turning tragedy into action

Since the tragic deaths of Caitlin, Frankie, and Neeve, both Sharron and Calvin have found new purpose in their grief, channeling their pain into meaningful action.

In November 2018, on what would have been Caitlin’s 20th birthday, Sharron launched 'Caitlin's Campaign' to raise awareness about the urgent need for a UK GDL system.

In April 2024, Sharron joined forces with other bereaved parents campaigning for GDL, forming Forget-me-not Families Uniting. This growing group, now comprising over 170 families, is standing together to demand the changes that could save countless lives, amplifying their voices in the pursuit of justice and reform.

Calvin founded Frankie and Neeve's Road Safety Academy in 2023, a platform dedicated to challenging outdated attitudes and advocating for new approaches to road safety, with the goal of protecting future generations.

Sharron, Calvin and many others who have experienced similar tragedies want one thing: to reduce the devastating loss of life on our roads. Their stories are a call to action, urging government officials, decision-makers and the public to take immediate steps to improve road safety.

By listening to and supporting those who have experienced the worst of road traffic collisions, we can begin to create a future where tragedies like these don’t happen. Together, we can make sure that their stories are not forgotten and that the changes needed to protect our communities become a reality.

Play your part

At Vision Zero Communications, I believe that incorporating the voices of those directly impacted by road tragedies is key to creating more meaningful, impactful road safety campaigns. Real-life stories, like those of Sharron Huddleston and Calvin Buckley, add a vital human dimension that statistics alone cannot convey.

They have the power to move hearts, shift perceptions and drive action. If your organisation is ready to make a real difference by telling these stories with sensitivity and purpose, I invite you to reach out. Together, we can craft compelling narratives that honour victims, engage communities, and inspire change. Let’s work towards a future where no family has to endure such devastating loss.