'Life is Precious' slogan unveiled on County Durham haulier's truck

Family-run Katem Logistics Ltd, based in Bowburn, is backing the ‘Life is Precious’ campaign, raising awareness of the deadly impact of using a handheld mobile phone while driving.

The haulier and logistics operator teamed up with campaign founder Mari Johnson, Durham Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Joy Allen, plus Newton Aycliffe and Spennymoor MP Alan Strickland, at the unveiling of a specially commissioned trailer ‘wrap’ promoting the ‘Life is Precious’ branding, with the company’s vehicles spreading the message on the UK’s roads.

Friday’s (June 27) event was poignant for Ms Johnson, who came up with the simple, but catchy ‘Life is Precious’ slogan.

(Image: Gary Walsh) It follows the tragic death of her parents, stepdad David Daglish and mother Elaine Sullivan, in a triple fatal road accident nearby on the A1(M), in July 2021.

(Image: Durham Constabulary) The couple were returning home to Seaham when their car was hit by a Scania lorry, which failed to slow in a tailback of traffic.

Driver Ion Nicu Onit, who was browsing a dating site on his mobile phone and failed to see the traffic queue ahead, ploughed into the vehicles at the back of the tailback.

Paul Mullen from Washington, who was in another of those vehicles, was also killed on impact.

(Image: Durham Constabulary) Romanian-born Onit, 41, who was living in the Scottish Borders at the time, subsequently received an eight-year and ten-month prison sentence after admitting three counts of causing death by dangerous driving

(Image: Durham Constabulary) Ms Johnson was delighted to see her slogan featuring prominently on the back of one of Katem’s lorries and thanked them and the road safety campaigning of Durham Police.

“I am forever grateful of the work that the police are continuing to do and to the haulage company who are promoting this and saving lives.

“Losing my mam and dad was, and still is devastating, and I don’t like talking about it, but, unfortunately, I know I have to because people are still driving around using their phones and thinking it’s okay.

“We need to make our roads safer and save lives so people don’t have to get the awful news I did, so I will continue to work with the police to get that message out there.”

She said she hope other hauliers would also adopt the livery to further spread the word.

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The ‘Life is Precious’ campaign targets the ‘Fatal Four’ causes of accidents, mobile phone use, failure to wear seatbelts, drink/drug driving and speeding.

The PCC, Ms Allen, who holds the Roads Policing portfolio on behalf of the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners (APCC), lobbies nationally for safety improvements on the UK’s roads and has pledged her full backing to Mari’s campaign.

Mr Strickland described the campaign run by Mari as “absolutely inspirational” and is backing the further roll-out of the campaign in coming months.