‘Kill speed, save lives’

CAMPAIGNING: Amjad Malik (left) is gathering signatures across Bradford in an attempt to get speed cameras installed on three major roads

Bradford family launch petition to protect city’s drivers

A bereaved father, whose son was tragically killed in a car accident last year, has launched his own petition in an attempt to keep other drivers safe on Bradford’s busiest roads.

Amjad Malik, from Eccleshill, is attempting to gather 2,000 signatures in support of installing speed cameras on Leeds Road, Killinghall Road and Barkerend Road.

On 14th September 2014, Mr Malik’s 15-year-old son, Saliq, was involved in a serious crash on Gilpin Street, whereby the car he was travelling in collided with a metal pole and wall.

Despite being rushed to hospital, the teenager sadly passed away and now Mr Malik and his family want to ensure no other families suffer a similar loss.

“So far we have nearly 300 signatures online and in paper form and are on track to meet our 26th October target,” he said.

“It is extremely important that we do what we can to stop the loss of life due to avoidable car accidents in these accident black spots across Bradford.

ACCIDENTS: Leeds Road is one ‘accident black spot’ Mr Malik hopes to see speed cameras installed on

“Speed cameras will slow down drivers who are speeding in excess of 50 to 70mph on some of these roads at night, and ultimately they could save a life.”

The speed camera petition has been arranged by Mr Malik and his family via their recently launched project – Consequences of Reckless Driving (CORD).

Operating out of a base on Manningham Road, they aim to raise awareness around the issues of dangerous driving by speaking with the community through schools, community centres and other institutions.

Mr Malik adds: “The petition is part of CORD and is one of the first things we hope to achieve as a real organisation.

“Since Saliq’s crash last year, around 20 to 25 serious road traffic accidents have happened on these busy roads and we are trying to stop this trend.

“So far we have established connections with local schools and are hoping to speak with mosque committees in an attempt to spread the message.

“I would ask everyone to sign the petition and help make our roads safer to drive on.”

If you would like to sign the petition online, please visit: epetition.bradford.public-i.tv/epetition_core/view/ThinkSpeedThinkSaliq

Father’s courage after son’s death

REMEMBRANCE: Amjad Malik, along with his family, are arranging a road safety awareness event this weekend in memory of Saliq Malik who sadly passed away following a car crash in September

Dad ‘determind’ to create road safety awareness after

Three months ago, a family from Bradford were left heartbroken as their teenage son was tragically killed in a car crash, turning their lives ‘upside down’.

Now, in memory of their sports-mad relative, Saliq Malik’s family have arranged a special road safety event, in the hope of preventing other families from suffering the same fate as they have.

Saliq was tragically killed when the Volkswagen Golf he was travelling in as a passenger crashed into a parked car, lamppost and brick wall in Barkerend on Friday 12th September.

He suffered serious head injuries and was taken to hospital where he died later that same day. Another 15-year-old passenger also suffered injuries but not life-threatening.

Following his passing, the Hanson Academy student’s friends and family decided they wanted to do something to raise awareness of the dangers of reckless driving.

This weekend, on Sunday 14th December from 4pm, an event will be staged in Bradford City Park to remember Saliq, with speeches to be given by guests, imams and councillors, before balloons are released into the sky.

A song and rap have also been written for the event, with a ‘huge surprise’ set to end the proceedings.

Saliq’s father, Amjad Malik, and mother, Uzma Sheikh, explained how the project first began and the important messages they hope to pass on to other young drivers and their families.

“When the crash happened, Saliq’s friends wanted to do something in his memory and it was talked about for quite a while before his funeral,” Mrs Sheikh said.

“During this time more accidents happened involving young people and they continued to happen after that as well. Just look at the young people killed in the recent crash on Manningham Lane and the five students in Doncaster.

TRAGIC: Saliq was the second oldest of five children and attended Hanson Academy

“It’s our families who have been affected by these tragedies today but tomorrow it could be someone else. We don’t want what has happened to our child, to happen to anyone else.”

Mr Malik continued: “This weekend’s event will be in loving memory of my son but it is something that we hope the whole community will get involved in because the message is one for the whole community.

“It may arranged by members of the Asian community but all speeches will be in English and we hope to draw in a multi-cultural crowd to bring everyone together.”

Saliq was the second oldest of five children, and lived with his family in Eccleshill.

Described as a child who ‘would want to put a smile on everyone’s faces’ , Mr Malik paid further tributes to his son.

“He got on with everyone,” Mr Malik said. “He never liked to see anyone upset and would do whatever he could to make people smile.

“All the family loved him, and the youngest kids would always play with him and looked up to him.

“Our event is aiming to alert people of the dangers of dangerous driving, the effects it can have on drivers and passengers, as well as their families.

“We hope to prevent what happened to Saliq, happening to any other families.”

LOCATION: Flowers and tributes were placed at the crash site, on Gilpin Street, in Barkerend