february 2026 CEO Blog

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Two Years In: A Reflection

When I look back on my time in roads policing, I’m reminded of how different that era was. Serious road collisions were more common, lives were being lost, and many of the systems and support structures we now regard as essential simply didn’t exist. There were no Family Liaison Officers, no established post-collision pathways, and very little in the way of structured, long-term support for those left behind.

During those years in the 1990s, I was involved in delivering what were often referred to as “sympathetic messages” to families. Even then, it was impossible not to recognise the significance of those moments. You were acutely aware that the words you were about to share would unleash a rollercoaster of emotional devastation, and that you were stepping into a moment of extreme shock and disbelief for the people in front of you. It was a responsibility that has resonated with me far more over the past two years than when it was part of my policing role.

Now, two years into my role as CEO of The Road Victims Trust, I find myself reflecting differently on those experiences. With a much greater understanding of trauma and grief, I often think about the families I encountered during that era and wonder how they managed in the days, weeks and months that followed. How did they cope once the immediate attention faded, and “life” continued around them?

Looking back, it feels difficult to imagine that we once thought it was enough to deliver devastating news and then step away, leaving individuals and families to find their own path through loss and upheaval. For those who have not experienced such trauma and grief, it is almost impossible to fully capture in writing what that period truly feels like for the people living through it. Loss and upheaval barely begin to describe it; the words could continue, one after another, and still fall short. These reflections have stayed with me, and they represent how far our understanding has come — and why the support that exists today is so vital.

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Understanding What Comes After

Our understanding of what happens after a serious or fatal road collision has changed significantly. We now recognise that the collision itself is only the beginning of what follows for those affected. Trauma and grief do not follow a predictable path, and their impact can surface long after formal processes have ended.

Post-collision support has therefore become a vital part of the wider road safety landscape. Across the UK, a small number of specialist charities work often unseen to support individuals and families at their most vulnerable, providing care and understanding that cannot always be delivered through statutory systems alone.

The fragility of this sector was brought into sharp focus by the recent loss of RoadPeace. For many years, RoadPeace played an important role in supporting those affected by road death and serious injury, and its absence is deeply felt. It serves as a reminder that this essential work relies on sustained commitment and recognition, despite the scale of the need.

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Why RVT Exists in This Often Unseen Space

It is within this often unseen space that The Road Victims Trust exists. We support people not at the moment of collision, but in the days, months and sometimes years that follow — when the shock has faded, “normality” has resumed for others, and the impact of loss or trauma begins to surface more clearly. Our role is to offer consistent, specialist support that allows individuals and families to be heard, understood and supported at their own pace.

Two years into my role as CEO, I have seen the difference this support can make. Individuals and families have been able to navigate the hurt and uncertainty that has been thrust upon them without warning. RVT exists because no one should be left to navigate the aftermath of a serious or fatal road collision alone. As our understanding of trauma and grief continues to grow, so too must our commitment to ensuring this often unseen support remains available for those who need it, now and in the future.

As I reflect on the past two years with a sense of pride, what resonates most is the importance of ensuring that compassion, understanding and specialist support are not treated as optional extras, but as essential elements of how society responds to individuals and families whose lives have been changed forever by road collisions. This remains at the heart of why RVT exists, and why our work in this often unseen space continues to make a real difference.

Paul Cook
Chief Executive Officer
The Road Victims Trust

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