😢 Road Safety: Young Drivers

• Young Drivers and Road Safety: Julia Buckley initiated a debate on road safety for young drivers, emphasizing that road traffic collisions are the leading cause of death for young people aged 15 to 29 worldwide. In 2023, 290 young people were killed in the UK due to road collisions.

• Statistics and Risks: Despite young drivers under 24 comprising only 6% of licence holders, they account for 18% of drivers killed or seriously injured. One in five newly qualified drivers has an accident within their first year, highlighting the higher risk associated with younger, less experienced drivers.

• Rural Road Dangers: Special attention was drawn to the dangers of rural roads, where collisions are four times more likely to be fatal. These roads present unique hazards like poor lighting, narrow passing points, and blind corners, which require specific driving skills.

• Public Transport and Isolation: In rural areas, the lack of public transport forces many young people to drive early, increasing their risk of accidents. For example, Shropshire has lost over 5,000 bus routes since 2010, compelling more teenagers to drive.

• Campaigns and Personal Stories: Crystal Owen shared the tragic story of her son Harvey, who died in a car crash, leading to her campaign for better safety measures for young drivers. Other personal stories and campaigns, like those by Sharron Huddleston and the Forget-me-not Families Uniting group, were also discussed.

• Proposed Measures: Suggestions for improving safety included additional training for new drivers, better road maintenance, mandating emergency safety hammers in vehicles (referred to as “Harvey’s hammer”), and exploring graduated driving licenses which might limit the number of passengers and night driving.

• Graduated Driving Licences: There was debate over graduated driving licenses, with some support but concerns about their impact on young people’s access to employment and education, particularly in rural areas.

• Government Response: The Minister for the Future of Roads, Lilian Greenwood, emphasized the government’s commitment to improving road safety. The government is considering non-legislative interventions and is developing a new road safety strategy, which includes targeted safety campaigns and further education for new drivers.

• Call for Action: There was a unified call for action to prevent future tragedies, suggesting a need for both immediate safety measures and long-term strategies to enhance road safety for all, especially young drivers.

The session on road safety for young drivers displayed a moderate level of disagreement, primarily centered around the approach to improving road safety rather than fundamental opposition to the issue itself. Most disagreements were constructive and focused on the specifics of proposed solutions, showing a willingness to engage on the topic with diverse perspectives. Here are the detailed examples and reasoning behind the rating:

1. Preventive vs. Punitive Approach: Lisa Smart (Hazel Grove, LD) suggested a preventive approach to road safety, specifically regarding speed cameras, which received immediate support from Julia Buckley (Shrewsbury, Lab). This indicates agreement on the importance of preventive measures but disagreement on current implementation, such as the requirement for a high number of accidents before cameras are installed.

2. Graduated Driving Licenses: There were varied views on graduated driving licenses (GDLs). Anna Sabine (Frome and East Somerset, LD) and several others supported them, suggesting it as a way to improve road safety. However, Greg Smith (Mid Buckinghamshire, Con) expressed concerns about restricting freedom, suggesting an alternative approach to improve driving education. The disagreement here focuses on the method to achieve safer driving rather than the necessity for safety itself.

3. Safety Measures and Campaigns: The idea of ‘Harvey’s hammer’ proposed by Julia Buckley received general support, with the Minister agreeing to consider it. There were no direct oppositions to this proposal in the session, indicating a consensus on the need for practical safety measures.

4. Infrastructure and Funding: Several members, including Anna Sabine and Anna Dixon (Shipley, Lab), discussed challenges with infrastructure improvements and funding for speed cameras or traffic lights. While there was agreement on the need for such improvements, there was disagreement and frustration expressed over the lack of funding and government support, highlighting different views on the practicality and responsibility of implementing such measures.

5. Education vs. Legislation: There was some disagreement on the focus between educational initiatives and legislative measures. While many MPs emphasized the need for better education, both before and after obtaining a driving license, others pushed for stricter laws such as GDLs. This indicates a broader debate on the best approach to reduce accidents among young drivers.

6. Public Transport: Helen Morgan (North Shropshire, LD) and others stressed the importance of improving public transport as part of a solution to reduce the necessity for young people to drive, particularly in rural areas. This was met with agreement but no opposition, suggesting a shared belief in the need for better alternative transportation options, though without a detailed discussion on how to implement this.

Overall, the disagreements were more focused on the tactics and implementation of road safety improvements rather than the necessity to address the issue. This indicates a session characterized by a constructive, albeit differing, dialogue on road safety for young drivers.