Caitlin's Campaign features in young and novice driver inquiry

The Transport Select Committee hears evidence from road safety experts

Parliament
Author: Michelle LiveseyPublished 8th Sep 2020
Last updated 8th Sep 2020

Calls for young drivers to be given more experience behind the wheel before and after they pass their test have been heard by a Comittee of MPs.

The Transport Select Committee has held its first evidence session as part of its inquiry to scrutinise the Government’s actions to reduce the risks of young and novice drivers being involved in a road traffic collision.

According to figures, young drivers aged 17-24 account for 7% of the UK’s driving licence holders but are involved in 20% of fatal and serious collisions.

Road Safety experts are recommending a Graduated Driving Licence be introduced in the UK to try and bring death rates down.

That would include a longer learning period, a night time curfew and a limit on passengers.

MP Lillian Greenwood was on the panel. After hearing from Bereaved father George Atkinson she commented on Caitlin's case as part of plans to look at the evidence surrounding Graduated Driving Licences:

Here is George's story:

On 12 January 1998, my daughter was killed while walking on a pavement in Enfield to attend a ballet class. As she was 30 minutes late, my wife and I went looking for her and ended up at the scene of the crash. We have used Livia’s untimely demise in a positive way to promote, encourage and protect safe driving. We do this by involving ourselves in campaigns for better enforcement of the road traffic laws, better legislation and better sanctions against proven dangerous drivers, and better road safety education. On the issue of better road safety education, I have been involved with Brake and its Too Young to Die campaign, and with a road safety programme called Safe Drive Stay Alive, in which I am still involved. We are sponsors of the Livia Award for Professionalism and Service to Justice. This is an award given in Parliament every year and is now in its 21st year. It is an award given to a Metropolitan road traffic police officer for going the extra mile. While I am interested in all aspects of road safety campaigning, I get involved greatly in the road safety education part of it. The programme that is nearest and dearest to me is Safe Drive Stay Alive. I have been involved with Transport for London and some behavioural change specialists in reviewing the programme in the London area. I am also very passionate about issues like the graduated driving licence, especially looking at the reasons why young drivers are involved in so many collisions.

Other witnesses to give evidence included Road Safety Campaigner Ian Greenwood, Elizabeth Box, Head of Research, RAC Foundation; Dr Neale Kinnear, Head of Behavioural Science, Transport Research Laboratory; and Dr Mary Williams OBE, Chief Executive, Brake.

To watch the session click here

After hearing all the evidence, Chair of the Committee Huw Merriman concluded by saying,

"Thank you very much to all the members of the panel for your evidence today. There has been a strong measure of consensus from campaigners and research institutions on the issue. We look forward to hearing a wide range of evidence in our future sessions before the Committee comes to conclusions about the issue."