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Young Driver Safety: Mother's Plea Amidst New Strategy
8 Jan
Summary
- A grieving mother criticizes the government's road safety strategy.
- The strategy lacks measures to protect young drivers, she argues.
- Young drivers aged 17-24 are involved in a disproportionate number of collisions.
A mother is voicing her profound disappointment with the government's recently unveiled road safety strategy, arguing it falls short of adequately protecting young drivers. Jane Radford's 17-year-old son tragically died in June 2024, just one month after obtaining his driving licence, prompting her campaign for stricter regulations.
Radford specifically advocates for a graduated licence scheme, a system implemented in countries like Australia and New Zealand, which she believes could save lives. Her concerns are amplified by government statistics revealing that drivers aged 17 to 24, while constituting only 6% of licence holders, are involved in 24% of fatal and serious collisions nationwide.
The Department for Transport's strategy includes proposals for a minimum learning period of up to six months, compulsory eye tests for drivers over 70, and a reduced drink-driving limit. However, Radford feels these measures are insufficient to prevent further tragedies among young motorists.
