Caitlin's Hour - in memory of teenager killed in crash
Special programme to raise awareness and save lives
A radio show dedicated to the life of a teenager from Cumbria killed in a horror crash is being aired to try and stop more lives being lost.
It comes as stats show 71% of fatal crashes involving young drivers occur on rural roads.
Caitlin's Hour will be broadcast on Hits Radio's regional network this Sunday in memory of 18-year-old Caitlin Huddleston, who died on the A595 in Cumbria in 2017.
Research by the AA Charitable Trust shows eight in ten drivers (86%) underestimate the risk driving poses to teenagers, with just one in six (14%) saying they believe it is the greatest threat to their safety.
It found that while the perceived risk of driving has not changed significantly (11% in 2008; 15% in 2013; 17% in 2018; 14% in 2021), the perception of drugs being the greatest threat to teenagers’ safety has risen from 31% to 39% since 2008.
Yet globally it's the leading cause of death among teenagers. The latest UK statistics** show 2,223 17-to-19-year-olds were killed or seriously injured in road crashes.
Overall, the research shows young drivers (aged 17-to-24) are over-represented in rural crashes by 9%, relative to all roads, with the over-representation highest for those aged 17 (27%) and decreasing with every subsequent year.
Young drivers were also shown to face a higher risk of death (2%) or serious injury (15.2%) when involved in a crash on a rural road compared to an urban road (0.6%; 11.3%).
Edmund King OBE, AA Charitable Trust director, said: “Road crashes are the single biggest killer of teenagers across the world, yet the general perception is that the inside of a car is a relatively safe place for them to be.
“Understanding how, when and where young people are involved in crashes is vitally important to being able to improve their safety.
“Our latest research takes an in-depth look at rural roads and the particular and significant risks they pose to young drivers.
“It is heart-breaking to hear about young people who have died in crashes, but we hope that by celebrating Caitlin’s life in a special radio show, we will be able to raise awareness of the dangers rural roads pose to young drivers.”
Sharron Huddleston, Caitlin's mum, said: "We are honoured that the AA Trust has chosen Caitlin to be the symbol of their rural roads campaign. I hope the 'Caitlin's Hour' radio broadcast and campaign will highlight to young newly qualified drivers and their parents, the dangers of driving on rural roads after passing their driving test and of the fragility of life too.
"I know Caitlin would want me to raise awareness in her memory, to try to help stop what happened to her, happening to any other young innocent people. This is what we are trying to do through 'Caitlin's Campaign'.
“'Caitlin's Hour' will let us honour and reflect on her all too short life".
Caitlin’s life will be celebrated in a one-hour long radio programme, Caitlin’s Hour, A Late-Night Show to Remember on Sunday June 6th. It will run across Hits Radio regional radio stations, between 2am and 3am - a time the AA Trust research has pinpointed represents a significant risk to young drivers on rural roads, particularly for crashes involving fatigue or substance impairment.
The radio show will include interviews with Caitlin’s loved ones and the playlist will include tracks from her favourite artists.
Drivers will also be alerted to Caitlin’s Hour by 36 billboards switching on nationwide when the show airs.