Cumbrian mum urges Government to not ignore support for Graduated Driving Licenses
A new study shows 72 per cent of people support the proposal, while 12 per cent oppose it.
Sharron Huddleston's been campaigning for the law change after her daughter, Caitlin, was killed in a car crash in 2017 as a front seat passenger. The driver, Caitlin's friend Skye Mitchell, 18, also died. She had passed her test four months previously. Another teenager in the back seat survived the crash with serious injuries.
The Coroner at Caitlin's inquest ruled the crash was caused by inexperience behind the wheel and agreed with Ms Huddleston for the graduated driving scheme (GDL) to be introduced to protect inexperienced drivers and prevent future deaths.
If accepted, the GDL would limit newly qualified drivers from carrying similar aged passengers in a vehicle for up to six months after passing their tests until they develop their driving skills independently.
Now, new polling carried out by More in Common, on behalf of The Road Safety Trust, shows widespread public support for many of the reported policies being considered by the government in its upcoming Road Safety Strategy - and appetite for further road safety legislation to protect young drivers.
Unveiling the findings at the annual UKROEd/NPCC Roads Policing Conference, Paul Steinberg, Director of Communications and Engagement at The Road Safety Trust, said the research demonstrates that the British public are ready for stronger action to make our roads safer.
Commissioned by the Trust and conducted by More in Common, the survey explores public attitudes towards key road safety measures, ahead of the Government’s forthcoming National Road Safety Strategy – the first such strategy in a generation.
There is a majority support for Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL), a phased licensing policy for young drivers that the government is believed not to include in the road safety strategy. 72 per cent support this, while 12 per cent oppose it.
Sharon said: "I'm really pleased to see, nationwide, the public are supporting this life saving law.
"This law isn't based on opinion, it is evidence based. It will save many young lives on our roads.
"58 per cent of parents with children over the age of 16 think too little is being done to protect young drivers. Unfortunately I know this first hand through how my daughter Caitlin was tragically killed.
"This would have saved Caitlin's life.
"We need the Government to listen to the public, the bereaved family members, and we need them to take action and add these safety precautions to the road safety strategy.
"They do keep saying they aren't going to implement the GDL and they are not going to add this to the road safety strategy. This evidence can be presented to them. Parents are concerned about their teenagers as young drivers."
Earlier this year the Government confirmed it had no plans to add the GDL system to to the road safety strategy, which is due to be published soon.