road heroes

Thanking the unsung heroes of the road

Our patrols helped get 3 million people back on the road last year - but that's just us doing our job. We're giving a big public thanks to all the other people doing good on Britain's roads, and we want to hear who you'd like to thank

Take a look at some of the amazing people out there doing good on the nation's roads - true #RoadHeroes

Tell us your #RoadHeroes now.


Donna

It's only when you watch her work you realise what a responsibility it is.

There's a steady stream of kids, parents and other pedestrians, with dogs, bikes and scooters crossing from both sides of the road, all to be matched against a thick and constant flow of London traffic.

On top of all this, there's a non-stop rain of waves and hellos and friendly beeps.

"I can't let my guard down for a moment," says Donna, laughing. "It's not as easy as it looks."

Given all the schools in the area, we work out that altogether there are around 4,000 kids under her watch.

"The secondary kids are off today, so this is actually pretty light."

She cuts herself short and twirls round to stop a double decker coming one way, and a white pick-up the other.

The six-year-olds troop across the road and say "Hello, Donna," in chorus. She knows all their names in return.

Donna road hero 


Dean

"She was distraught and it turned out her mother was dying and they were hurrying down to Cambridge to say goodbye."

Rising comedian Dean Moore is explaining how he drove two strangers 200 miles after an accident.

"I stopped because there was hydraulic leaking, so there's a risk of fire."

He claims humbly that anyone else would have done the same, but Dean is blessed with a rare overload of humanity.

A cloud of warm feelings follows him everywhere, and soon it feels like we've met everyone in his hometown personally.

"You've got to be happy, 'cos what's the point in being miserable?"

A natural comic, Dean can't stop talking, and you can imagine most of it on stage. He once got an entire comedy club audience to sing happy birthday to reggae star Pato Banton.

He shows us a video of Pato wishing him happy birthday in return. This exchange now happens every year without fail.

Dean road hero 

Steve

"Obviously the bikes have to look this way to stand out, but it means most people think we're paid - either police or paramedics."

Steve is one of a network of volunteers who ride 'blood bikes', speeding urgent medical supplies between hospitals, ambulance services and patients in need.

His charity, Freewheelers, is one of 30 the NHS relies on across the UK for vital courier services.

"Blood, blood plasma, emergency medication, breast milk for premature babies," he lists their precious cargo. "The strangest was tiger serum for a woman who'd been bitten on holiday.

Today he's dropping off the daily blood for the Great Western Air Ambulance, another service completely funded by donations.

Riders like Steve rarely meet the people whose lives they save, but most are happy to stay in the background.

"It's enough to know you make a difference," he says. "Occasionally, you might meet the patient directly, or a parent, but most of the time we're the unseen intermediary."

Steve road hero