Mum of Kidderminster teen killed in crash asking government to listen to calls for legislation for new drivers
Leanne Vaughan's daughter Lily-May was killed on the 4 February 2023 when her boyfriend lost control of their car and collided with a telegraph pole in Shropshire
The mum of a Kidderminster teenager who was killed in a crash in Shropshire is urging the government to listen to public support when it comes to calls for legislation to be brought in for newly qualified drivers.
Leanne Vaughan, alongside others, is asking for new laws to be introduced following the death of her 17-year-old daughter Lily-May, who was a passenger in a car which collided with a telegraph pole on an unnamed road in Shawbury Heath on 4 February 2023.
Earlier this year the driver of the car 20-year-old Logan Addison, who was also Lily-May's boyfriend, was found guilty of causing her death by dangerous driving and was sentenced to five years and six months in prison.
A recent polling carried out by More in Common, on behalf of The Road Safety Trust, has now shown public support for a number of reported policies which are being considered by the government in its upcoming Road Safety Strategy.
In the research, it showed a majority support for a phased licensing system for young drivers, such as Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL), with 72% supporting this, while 12% opposed it.
Installing 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.
Commissioned by the Trust, the survey aimed to 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.
Unveiling the findings, Paul Steinberg, who is the 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.
Leanne said what the survey has shown didn't come as a surprise.
"It wasn't a great shock to be honest, because I think through sharing my story, there's a lot of campaigners and bereaved families who have been fighting for change," she said.
"I think the statistics do reflect the general feeling of the public that we have got to address this problem, it's a major crisis.
"I really want to work with our government and I'm really optimistic that now with this survey as well as all families coming forward saying, please help us, please do something to address this problem, I think that hopefully something will feature on it."Â
Leanne has spoke previously about how Lily-May was ''everyone's best friend' and described her as as 'precious'.
In September, to mark what would've been her daughter's 20th 'heavenly birthday', Leanne walked up The Wrekin hill in Shropshire for the 20th time this year.
Since her death, Leanne has also been working with national charity for road crash victims RoadPeace in their campaign to reduce road danger and receiving support from them.
"We just want to see positive change, we must protect the young drivers," she said.
"I'm really hoping that on this road safety strategy, that if they're not prepared to take the whole elements of GDL, which we know is proven to save lives, then I'd really like to see something like new drivers carrying no passengers for at least 6 months (after passing their test).
"That's really going to save lives."
Earlier this year the Government confirmed it had no plans to add the GDL system to the road safety strategy, which is due to be published soon.
The Department for Transport (DfT) previously said it was developing a new road safety strategy to "ensure the UK's roads remain among the safest in the world".
It added the Future of Roads Minister regularly meets families of young people killed on our roads to help better inform our efforts to tackle this problem and protect young drivers.