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Bereaved couple honoured for road safety work
2:56pm Monday 14th January 2008
Comments (5)
A COUPLE who lost their son in a horrific car crash have won an annual European award for their road safety campaign work.
Ann and Terry Hannon - who helped launch the Lancashire Telegraph's Wasted Lives campaign - will now jet off to Barcelona after being honoured by the European Road Safety Charter group.
The couple, from Kingsley Close, Blackburn, began fighting for young drivers to take more responsibility behind the wheel after their 22-year-old son Matthew was killed in an accident in 2006.
Matthew had been racing a friend along Livesey Branch Road, Blackburn, when he clipped a bollard and smashed into a wall. He died at the scene.
The European Road Safety Charter, part of the European Commission, brings together road safety groups to take concrete actions, assess results and heighten awareness about the need to reduce road accident fatalities.
The Hannons were among 20 people who were given official recognition of their road safety work.
Mother-of-three Ann said: "It has been hard for us to carry on campaigning but we want to get our message across.
"A moment of madness ripples through so many lives and leaves such piercing pain.
"We hope that Matthew is looking down on us and is proud of what we have done."
Ann and Terry have worked closely with the Lancashire Partnership for Road Safety (LPRS) and headed a Mother's Day campaign, which highlighted the devastation caused to a family when a young driver dies in a crash.
Both regularly talk at workshops for young apprentices and police recruits about the effects that Matthew's death has had on their lives.
Their heart-breaking story was used to launch the Lancashire Telegraph's Wasted Lives campaign, which is calling for educational and legislative reform to cut the carnage on our roads that is caused by young drivers.
The couple, who have two daughters, have also helped the LPRS to create an educational DVD entitled Missing Matthew.
It was shown for the first time at a special road safety conference held by the LPRS and the Lancashire Telegraph last week.
Linda Sanderson, from LPRS, said: "We are thrilled that Ann and Terry's hard work has been acknowledged.
"We put them forward for the award because they have done so much and this was our way of saying thank you."
Your Say YourLancashire Telegraph
william woodford, livesey says...
10:54pm Mon 14 Jan 08
terry hannon, Livesey says...
7:55pm Tue 15 Jan 08
william woodford wrote:Thanks William.
Well done from me too. Just a pity that their efforts have not been backed up by our glorious Constabulary. Their only answer is STILL to send the mobile camera to LBR during the day..no doubt raking in thousands from ORDINARY motorists whilst the bot wonders STILL get away with meyhem EVERY evening, in all weathers. Now that Messrs COTTAM and co have \"won\" their Magnificent victory agains deleopment of JamPot Lane...perhaps they can actually start to DO something rather than just talk
I must admit I have been out walking my dog tonight and have been passed by 6 different young hot hatch drivers on Livesey Branch Rd and Preston Old Rd who were all travelling at breakneck speeds.
Something does need to be done.
Regards,
Terry.
terry hannon, says...
7:59pm Tue 15 Jan 08
Hilary and Mick wrote:Thanks very much Hil and Mick.
Well done to both of you Matthew would be so proud of you all the way you have wanted to help others.Its been a long hard journey and it does not get any easier be strong and Keep up the good work. ****
When you are supported and helped with lovely friends it makes things so much easier. Thanks to you both for everything you have done.
Terry, Ann, Colette, Rebecca and Charlie.xx
StopWastedLives, Clitheroe says...
4:41pm Thu 17 Jan 08
william woodford wrote:Well said William!
Well done from me too. Just a pity that their efforts have not been backed up by our glorious Constabulary. Their only answer is STILL to send the mobile camera to LBR during the day..no doubt raking in thousands from ORDINARY motorists whilst the bot wonders STILL get away with meyhem EVERY evening, in all weathers. Now that Messrs COTTAM and co have "won" their Magnificent victory agains deleopment of JamPot Lane...perhaps they can actually start to DO something rather than just talk
The police are far too concerned with 'speed' in relation to the limit as a measure of safety, and work towards law enforcement than common sense road safety.
25% of excessive speed accidents are caused by young drivers (it may be INVOLVE young drivers actually, not sure, still the highest of any age group)
5% of speed camera convictions are young drivers (the lowest of any age group)
(look at me providing pro wasted lives statistics :P)
Clearly speed camera policy is not catching the DANGEROUS use of speed, rather the ILLEGAL use of it, in certain situations.
AWARD: Terry and Ann Hannon want to get the message across about road safety
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Hilary and Mick, Blackburn says...
9:04pm Mon 14 Jan 08