Police chief backs Wasted Lives campaign aims

9:25am Saturday 12th January 2008

Comments (7)   Have your say »

By Sally Henfield »

• Play Video

ONE of the county's top police officers has thrown his weight behind Lancashire Telegraph proposals that place tougher restrictions on young drivers.

Chief Supt David Mallaby, who is in charge of Eastern Division including Blackburn, Darwen, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley, said the Wasted Lives campaign aims were all 'do-able'.

His comments followed government hints that they might find it difficult to police measures such as passenger restrictions and limits on engine size for learners.

He was speaking at a conference yesterday at Ewood Park organised by the Lancashire Telegraph and the Lancashire Partnership for Road Safety.

At the event Jack Straw said he broadly supported the Wasted Lives campaign and "on balance" he also favoured passenger restrictions for learners.

He said he had spoken to Transport Minister Ruth Kelly that morning and as a result of the campaign and the work of the Transport Select Committee 'there will be changes.' The conference showcased the powerful and emotional Missing Matthew DVD which features interviews with Ann and Terry Hannon who lost their 22-year-old son Matthew as he raced a friend along Livesey Branch Road, Blackburn two years ago "in a moment of madness".

An audience of around 150 included MPs, business leaders, young people, emergency workers, road safety experts and bereaved families.

The meeting also focussed on the aims of the Wasted Lives campaign and there was general agreement that the government needs to impose wide-ranging learner driver reforms for the under 25s as well as sweeping educational initiatives.

The aims include the raising of the driving age to 18, a specified number of hours under a graduated licence scheme, heavy restrictions on the under 25s for the carrying of young passengers - and on engine size for learners.

Mr Mallaby said: "The graduated licence scheme is laudable.

"It is most do-able. P-plates are do-able. Passenger restrictions - there is nothing to stop that taking place."

He added that automatic number plate recognition made it easy for an officer to check a driver's licence status. "We can access information about a driver instantly at the side of the road," said Mr Mallaby.

Some legislation could even be self-enforcing if people were educated to understand why it was important, said Mr Mallaby. Referring to the introduction of compulsory crash helmets for motorcyclists, he said: "If that had been made voluntary, would it have save so many lives over the last 15 years?"

However, Mr Mallaby said some of the Wasted Lives aims would have to be looked at in greater depth.

"I certainly don't see them as draconian."

Mr Straw said insurance companies could be used to enforce some changes, rather than legislation, by insisting on no-passenger restrictions, or specific engine sizes as a policy conditions.

He added: "I assure you we are going to take action. It will take a little time and people will be frustrated about that but it is better for us to get it exactly right than change the law and wonder why it hasn't worked."

Lancashire Telegraph editor Kevin Young said the influential people gathered at the conference had to continue to push for change. He said: "I think it is possible politicians will walk away from other critical reforms.

"We have a very powerful audience here and I want you to pledge your support to get the government to act."

Speaking about their involvement in the creation of the Missing Matthew DVD, parents Terry and Ann Hannon said they hoped their horrific experience would move young drivers to consider the risks they take on the road.

Ann said: "Every second of every day there is a piercing, choking pain that is in us. It has been hard to do all this but we hope that Matthew is looking down and will be proud of us."

Dad Terry added: "Matthew always said he was too good at driving to have an accident. He had an air of invincibility. That invincibility turned out to be tosh.This is a real life story it has got to have some effect."

Terry called for school pupils to be educated about the dangers of driving even before they are old enough to get behind the wheel and for parents to take responsibility for what their teens are doing.

He added: "When Matthew told me he had had his car chipped (to increase the engine's power) I said good on you.

"I thought a chip would stop it getting stolen. Parental awareness is key."

Speaking after the conference, Linda Sanderson, from the Lancashire Partnership for Road Safety, said: "The event has been a great success and I am pleased with the commitments that everyone had made to move this on.

"People have been stimulated by the debate and are eager to do more. "