‘SafeCrossing’ is an initiative by Parents of Road Victims - SAVE vzw (OVK - SAVE). It aims to create safe crossing points throughout Flanders, with support from citizens, cities and municipalities, and the Flemish government (Flemish Roads and Traffic Agency - Agentschap Wegen & Verkeer).
We can all relate… Getting to the other side of the road on foot or by bike isn’t always easy. Some locations simply feel ‘dangerous’, leaving you with an uneasy feeling. Whether as a child going to school or as a parent… crossing the road safely can be challenging. Far beyond the mere presence of a zebra crossing, many other factors and responsibilities come into play (like the attentiveness and courtesy of all road users, high traffic speeds, infrastructure, signage, visibility, sufficient lighting, and so on). But of course, safely crossing the road obviously starts with striving for safe crossing points. That is the core principle behind ‘SafeCrossing’.
Who are we?
Parents of Road Victims - SAVE brings together and supports families who have lost a child in a road crash. The organisation works to improve support for the families of road victims, break the silence surrounding grief, and address road safety issues. In doing so, we aim to create meaningful impact. We strive to be a strong voice that inspires reflection and calls on everyone to actively contribute to safer roads, so that no (young) life is ever lost again.
how did ‘Safe Crossing’
come about?
In the summer of 2022, OVK - SAVE launched the ‘SafeCrossing’ campaign. In a powerful campaign film, Martine and Filip, parents of Valentien, recounted how their child was hit while crossing the street at a location without a zebra crossing. Tragically, Valentien did not survive. The film ended with a striking image of a zebra crossing created with the names of children who lost their lives after being struck at an unsafe or disregarded crossing point. Citizens were invited to visit the campaign website, and mark on a map where exactly safer crossings were needed, and to indicate what made the location unsafe: the absence of a zebra crossing, high vehicle speeds, poor visibility, insufficient lighting, etc.
“If this helps save even one life, it will be worth it. Because this has to stop today. Not tomorrow, but today. We cannot keep losing our children.”
Martine
Valentien's mother
‘SAFECROSSING’
AND SAVE
‘SafeCrossing’ is a key part of our ‘SAVE Cities and Municipalities’ programme. SAVE is the Dutch acronym for ‘Samen Actief voor VEilig verkeer’ (‘Working Together for Safer Traffic’). Since 2011, we have encouraged cities and municipalities to commit to improving road safety by signing the SAVE charter. The charter is built around seven key objectives, with a strong focus on the needs and perspectives of children and young people. Every city or municipality participating in ‘SafeCrossing’ has signed the SAVE charter, demonstrating a clear commitment to its citizens to actively pursue a road safety policy based on the perspective of children and young people.
“If this helps save even one life, it will be worth it. Because this has to stop today. Not tomorrow, but today. We cannot keep losing our children.”
Martine
Valentien's mother
