Plans to Cut Deaths of Under-25s on Dorset Roads

THEY’RE too young to die on Dorset’s roads. Road safety organisations, highways bosses and driving instructors have backed calls to impose restrictions on new drivers.

It follows research from Cardiff University which recommended those aged 17-24 should be subjected to “graduated licensing” for two years after passing their test.

The idea would stop inexperienced drivers getting behind the wheel at night or drinking any alcohol before driving. It would also ban them from carrying passengers of a similar age.

According to statistics from Dorset Road Safe – a partnership including local councils and emergency services – in 2009 a quarter of the 26 people killed and 352 seriously injured on Dorset’s roads were aged 16-25.

A spokesperson said: “We welcome any action that will reduce road casualties.

“We do recognise through our thorough research and analysis that we carry out with the casualties that this 17-25 age group is a high risk group and we and our partners are committed to working with them.”

Road safety charity Brake has also backed graduated licensing and has campaigned for it for years.The research published yesterday said bringing it in would save 200 lives a year and result in 1,700 fewer injuries. Similar schemes already operate in other countries.

In recent years several drivers killed on Dorset’s roads have been under 25.

Earlier this year Chloe Garlick, 21, died on the Bournemouth Spur Road, while in June 2009 William Johnston, 19, was killed in a head-on crash as he overtook a lorry on the A31 at Stag Gate.

Donald Williams, 72, died in the car coming the other way.

In December 2008, Grace Selby, 18, was killed on the A354 and, at Christmas the same year, Hannah Hinchliffe, 22, died on the A35 Upton bypass while three-and-a-half times the drink-drive limit.

Speaking to the Daily Echo after her inquest in April 2009, Hannah’s aunt Christine Smith said: “If Hannah’s story stops someone else getting in a car when they are drunk, then at least it is another life saved.”

Swanage driving instructor Rob Hymns said: “I think generally anything that allows new drivers to gain experience in a safer environment is always a good thing.”

Rodney Board, of Branksome School of Motoring, said: “To be honest, I think it’s something that has to happen.

“With youngsters today there are so many accidents for young drivers.”

John Satchwell, road safety officer at Bournemouth Borough Council, added: “We should welcome any practical scheme that can more closely manage driving to skills as they are gained.”

He added that constraints might be hard to enforce and he would like to see effort put into providing more training.

Source of this Article:

Bounemouth Echo (opens a new window)

By Heidi Rees (Bournemouth 2026 Partnership)

Posted: Wednesday 22 September 2010

Permalink: http://www.bournemouth2026.org.uk/plans-to-cut-deaths-of-under-twenty-fives-on-dorset-roads

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