Road Safety: Young Drivers
Bayo Alaba Excerpts(3 weeks, 3 days ago)
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Mr Bayo Alaba (Southend East and Rochford) (Lab)
I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Shrewsbury (Julia Buckley) for securing this important debate and sharing the tragic loss of young Harvey. Ahead of this debate, I met Gillian and John McGrath, constituents of mine in Southend East and Rochford, whose daughter was tragically killed in March 2009 by a newly qualified driver. Eleanor Grace McGrath was hit by a 17-year-old driver who was showing off to his friends when he struck a crowd of children, 14 of whom experienced severe injuries. Sadly, the story and the loss of Eleanor Grace are not unique.
Following Eleanor’s death, two of her closest friends and Gillian and John set up the campaign Driving with Grace, which produced a documentary to educate our young people on the devastating impact of road collisions. The documentary has been shown to young people across Essex and has had a significant impact. I welcome the announcement of the new national road safety strategy. Will the Minister consider a P plate system, which is a key recommendation of the Driving with Grace campaign, in the next steps of the strategy? It would mean that new drivers must display a P plate for the first year after passing their test, encouraging other drivers to give them space and potentially making new drivers less likely to show off.
As a parent, I understand the constant conflict between granting young people the freedom they deserve and worrying about keeping them safe. Tragedies such as the loss of Eleanor Grace are far too common. Moving forward, we have to make changes. I am sure all Members present will join me in commending my hon. Friend the Member for Shrewsbury on securing this debate.