MPs and bereaved households have launched a brand new marketing campaign urging the federal government to re-think its place on introducing Graduated Driving Licences.
The occasion, in Parliament, got here at first of Highway Security Week and forward of the federal government’s extremely anticipated new street security technique, the primary in a decade, which might be revealed subsequent month.
Kim Leadbeater MP advised the gathering that the thought for harder guidelines for brand spanking new drivers “transcends party politics” and will depart to “saving people’s lives”.
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5 younger adults died in a crash in Eire on Saturday night time. Pic: PA
Organisations, together with fireplace providers, police and crime commissioners, motoring organisations in addition to street security charities, are behind a brand new web site, “Protect Young Drivers: Time for Change”, which paperwork the case for introducing stronger measures.
Graduated Driving Licences (GDLs) is a system designed to offer new drivers a staggered method to gaining full privileges on the street, equivalent to driving at night time or with a full automobile of passengers.
The system has been profitable in nations together with Canada and Australia at decreasing the variety of younger folks killed or severely injured.
“I feel as a bereaved parent we are very easily dismissed”
Final yr 22% of fatalities on Britain’s roads concerned a teenager behind the wheel.
Information launched by the Division for Transport additionally reveals that male drivers aged 17-24 are 4 occasions extra more likely to be killed or severely injured than all drivers aged over 25.
At first of the launch a one minute silence was held to recollect victims of street site visitors accidents – together with 5 younger adults who died in a crash in Eire on Saturday night time.
Chris Taylor, who misplaced his 18-year-old daughter Rebecca in a street site visitors collision in 2008, stated the grief does not go away.
“I feel as a bereaved parent we are very easily dismissed,” he stated. “We’ve got an opportunity. Together we are a movement that can create real change.”
“Every death on our roads is a tragedy and our thoughts are with everyone who has lost a loved one in this way,” stated a spokesperson.
“Whilst we are not considering Graduated Driving Licences, we absolutely recognise that young people are disproportionately victims of tragic incidents on our roads and continue to tackle this through our THINK! campaign.
“We’re contemplating different measures to deal with this downside and shield younger drivers, as a part of our upcoming technique for street security – the primary in over a decade.”
