This has offered students and members of the public a chance to reflect on the devastating impact of road collisions and make a personal pledge to be a safer road user.

The Tree of Life was on display at Sandwell College earlier this month, before moving to Sandwell Council House from 12 to 20 February. Visitors to the Council House were invited to write a pledge committing to safer behaviour on the roads, whether they drive, cycle, walk, or use a scooter, and post it into a special pledge box.

In 2024, 150 people were killed or seriously injured on Sandwell’s roads, with car occupants and pedestrians most at risk. Young drivers are particularly vulnerable, with around one in five serious or fatal car-collision casualties involving a young driver, and young men aged 17 to 24 four times more likely to be killed or seriously injured than older drivers.

The letters on the Tree of Life feature deeply personal and heartbreaking messages from families whose loved ones were killed in road collisions. Each letter tells a real story, offering visitors a chance to see the human consequences of reckless and dangerous driving.

The Tree of Life has been created by Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) in partnership with a peer support group of families bereaved through road crashes, alongside police and local councils. It forms part of the Zero Tolerance to Road Harm campaign, which also features bereaved families reading messages to lost loved ones or to the drivers responsible for taking their lives.

One letter, written by Diane, speaks directly to the driver who killed her husband, Martyn:
“The day you killed my husband, Martyn, Dad to our two girls, has forever changed our lives. Your actions of looking at your phone instead of the road ahead has had lifelong consequences for us all. Martyn has missed our girls’ milestones and becoming a grandad for the first time.”

Another, from Lucy to her brother Peter, killed in a hit-and-run, says:
“I wonder what you would be like, but I cannot know – we will never know, because your potential was wiped out by a driver. I have never stopped missing you.”

Councillor Keith Allcock, Cabinet Member for Environment and Highways, at Sandwell Council said: “Everyone has a role to play in road safety, whether they’re behind the wheel, on a bike, or simply crossing the road. The pledges made at Sandwell College and the Council House are about personal responsibility and collective action, helping us build safer streets for everyone. We invite our residents to come and visit the tree to learn about the experiences of the bereaved families and reflect on how they can all become safer road users.”

Councillor Suzanne Hartwell, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods and Community, at Sandwell Council, added: “The Tree of Life is a powerful and deeply moving reminder that road danger isn’t about statistics, it’s about people, families, and lives changed forever. Bringing this installation to Sandwell gives our residents and students the chance to commit to making safer choices every time they travel.”

Sandwell College’s Assistant Principal for Student Services, Angela Tombs, said: “We were honoured to have the opportunity to support this initiative in partnership with Sandwell Council, which helps our young people by highlighting the importance of road safety and shares real experiences in a way that students found both engaging and moving.”

Mat MacDonald, West Midlands Road Safety Commissioner, said: “The letter tree is a deeply moving work which offers a glimpse into the anguish, grief and yearning of losing a loved one on our roads.

“Every death in a traffic collision is a failure of the systems which are supposed to keep us safe. The bravery of contributors who shared their stories of the unthinkable human cost which we pay for such failure is beyond words.

“We know these losses are preventable, so nobody should ever have to write a letter like this. The least we owe those who have generated this powerful message is to stop, listen, and create a future where nobody does.”

The installation and pledge initiative is aimed at adults aged 18–64, with a particular focus on young male drivers (18–35), families, and all road users. By engaging both students and the wider community, the campaign encourages safer behaviour on every journey, including avoiding texting, phone use, drug driving, and other risky actions.

With over 1,000 people killed or seriously injured on West Midlands Combined Authority roads last year, it is more important than ever for everyone to take personal responsibility. Members of the public and students were encouraged to visit the Tree of Life, read the letters, and reflect on how their choices on the roads can save lives.