Vicki McCarthy tragically lost her beautiful daughter Jordanna when she was fatally injured in a road traffic accident on 15 November 2014. Jordanna had gone out in the car with her friends and was going to meet up with other friends when the accident occurred. 

Vicki commented that "losing a child is an indescribable tragedy and one that leaves you lost for words, clinging to memories, and desperately searching for purpose amidst overwhelming grief. My daughter was vibrant and full of dreams. She had her whole life ahead of her until a single moment on the road changed everything. Since her passing, my world has been forever altered, and I hope that sharing her story can save others from enduring this unimaginable pain."

In this article, Vicki shares her experience and the impact these have had.

"I founded the Lost & Found Road Safety Campaign to honour my daughter's memory and to educate school-aged children on road traffic accidents. I want to highlight the potential dangers both pedestrians and drivers can experience on the road. Our mission is simple: to turn loss into awareness and prevent the senseless tragedies that happen on our roads daily. Through the campaign, I've connected with others who have faced similar losses, sharing our stories to remind the world that these statistics are people - each one a life and a loved one, lost.

"As we begin Road Safety Week , I feel compelled to share my story even more passionately. This annual event, which gathers communities, schools, and individuals to champion road safety, is a powerful reminder that we each have a role in creating safer roads. It isn't just about rules and regulations; it's about the lives behind those numbers - the mothers, fathers, siblings, and friends left shattered by preventable accidents.

"Every year, Brake chooses a theme that amplifies the importance of road safety, and this year's message resonates deeply with me. Road safety is everyone's responsibility . Whether you're a driver, cyclist, pedestrian, or simply someone who cares about the well-being of others, your actions make a difference. Small, mindful changes like reducing speed, avoiding distractions, and respecting all road users can be the difference between life and death.

"Through Lost & Found, I work to spread this awareness, not as a faceless campaign, but as a grieving mother who knows all too well the cost of distraction, impatience, or a simple mistake on the road. When you take a moment to think about the lives impacted and the families torn apart, you begin to see that road safety is about human lives, and every life matters."

What you can do

1. Make every journey safe: Whether you're on the road as a driver, passenger, or pedestrian, commit to safety. Think of those you love and the families like mine who are left picking up the pieces.
2. Encourage your community to care: Engage your local schools, workplaces, and communities. Safety is a shared commitment, and the more people who are informed, the stronger our collective impact.

Nothing will bring Vicki's daughter back, but if her story can prevent another life from being taken too soon, then her memory will have served a purpose beyond measure.

Please, as we enter Road Safety Week, take a moment to remember the lives lost, support the families grieving, and commit to making our roads a place where we can travel safely.

If you want to find out more about the lost and found road safety campaign, please visit their website .

Katrina Elsey, senior associate and road accident specialist, comments, "I regularly witness the tragic consequences of road traffic accidents through my work. Each accident is a stark reminder of how lives change in an instant. I wholeheartedly support the Lost and Found Road Safety Campaign and am honoured to attend an upcoming assembly alongside Vicki and her team in December. I am incredibly grateful to Vicki for her courage in sharing her story. Her dedication is a powerful reminder that these tragedies are not mere statistics but stories of loved ones. Together, we can make roads a safer place for everyone."

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