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".
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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. "
Posted by: Adrian Shurmer, Great Harwood on 1:08pm Sat 12 Jan 08
Words, words, words! We are all into addressing the importance of improving road safety but something more radical needs to take place to make a real difference.
It's not just a matter of rules, regulations and "ban this" and "ban that."
It's more to do with driver psychology.
Here's a friendly piece of advice to all those involved with this conference.
"Only dead fish flow with the stream." and "you can't herd cats"
Words, words, words! We are all into addressing the importance of improving road safety but something more radical needs to take place to make a real difference.
It's not just a matter of rules, regulations and "ban this" and "ban that."
It's more to do with driver psychology.
Here's a friendly piece of advice to all those involved with this conference.
"Only dead fish flow with the stream." and "you can't herd cats"
Posted by: Gene Hunt, Mars on 5:31pm Sat 12 Jan 08
The Missing Matthew DVD is very impactive and should be shown to all new drivers who pass their test, just before they walk away from the DSA test centre with their pass certificates. I have 3 grown up children who are all taking lessons at the moment. I showed them the video and you could have heard a pin drop as they watched and listened to every word that the Hannon family said. I hope and pray that my 3 take the advice on board. Well done to the Hannon family and all those involved in this campaign. I'm not in favour of all the aims of wasted lives, but, something has to be done. I'm not a kill joy who stereotypes all young drivers,but, as the article says, helmet and seatbelt laws had much opposition when first muted. Now, for the large majority of law abiding motorists they are an accepted element of making our roads safer places to be.
The Missing Matthew DVD is very impactive and should be shown to all new drivers who pass their test, just before they walk away from the DSA test centre with their pass certificates. I have 3 grown up children who are all taking lessons at the moment. I showed them the video and you could have heard a pin drop as they watched and listened to every word that the Hannon family said. I hope and pray that my 3 take the advice on board. Well done to the Hannon family and all those involved in this campaign. I'm not in favour of all the aims of wasted lives, but, something has to be done. I'm not a kill joy who stereotypes all young drivers,but, as the article says, helmet and seatbelt laws had much opposition when first muted. Now, for the large majority of law abiding motorists they are an accepted element of making our roads safer places to be.
Posted by: John Lomas, Darwen on 9:47pm Sat 12 Jan 08
Mr Mallaby said: 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.
I am sorry Mr Mallaby but it doesn't, it tells you about the registered keeper of the vehicle not the driver.
Mr Mallaby said: 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.
I am sorry Mr Mallaby but it doesn't, it tells you about the registered keeper of the vehicle not the driver.
Posted by: observer, Hyndburn on 10:08pm Sat 12 Jan 08
One problem over the last 10 years or so has been the reliance on speed cameras alone to contain casualties on our roads. Road policing by specialist officers has been slashed.Traffic officers to give inexperienced young drivers a few words of advice are few and far between.Further education from an extremely basic 'pass the test' variety has been non existant. These things cost money, of course. Shows how interested senior politicos and senior police officers have been.
It's beginning to dawn now that the policy is not working - hence said politcos and senior police officers are shamed into scurrying to be associated with the Telegraphs well meaning and laudable efforts to make a difference.
But isn't 'making a difference' what the LPfRS was supposed to have been doing all this time?
Of course the people who brought the speed camera program back from Australia all those years ago, and those that have administered the scheme since are hardly likely be willing converts from a simplistic 'speed kills' mentality.
I hope the close proximity of the Police and LPfRS in the wasted lives campaign will not cause the Telegraph to hold back on the evolving can of worms that is the speed camera operation at Guide.
In the meantime, a suggestion I would make regarding new drivers of any age would be that they should initially have to learn to ride some form of motor bike. I'm sure the road craft thus learned would improve their future car driving.
One problem over the last 10 years or so has been the reliance on speed cameras alone to contain casualties on our roads. Road policing by specialist officers has been slashed.Traffic officers to give inexperienced young drivers a few words of advice are few and far between.Further education from an extremely basic 'pass the test' variety has been non existant. These things cost money, of course. Shows how interested senior politicos and senior police officers have been.
It's beginning to dawn now that the policy is not working - hence said politcos and senior police officers are shamed into scurrying to be associated with the Telegraphs well meaning and laudable efforts to make a difference.
But isn't 'making a difference' what the LPfRS was supposed to have been doing all this time?
Of course the people who brought the speed camera program back from Australia all those years ago, and those that have administered the scheme since are hardly likely be willing converts from a simplistic 'speed kills' mentality.
I hope the close proximity of the Police and LPfRS in the wasted lives campaign will not cause the Telegraph to hold back on the evolving can of worms that is the speed camera operation at Guide.
In the meantime, a suggestion I would make regarding new drivers of any age would be that they should initially have to learn to ride some form of motor bike. I'm sure the road craft thus learned would improve their future car driving.
Posted by: Me, Somewhere out there on 11:54am Sun 13 Jan 08
Observer says "new drivers of any age should initially have to learn to ride some form of motor bike - does observer not know that these people are usually "temporary residents" as they are the ones that are most likely to be killed, you can preach all you like, the people you are preaching to are not listening or watching, they are out driving their high powered vehicles and wraping themselves around trees - you can lead a horse to water .....
Observer says "new drivers of any age should initially have to learn to ride some form of motor bike - does observer not know that these people are usually "temporary residents" as they are the ones that are most likely to be killed, you can preach all you like, the people you are preaching to are not listening or watching, they are out driving their high powered vehicles and wraping themselves around trees - you can lead a horse to water .....
Posted by: StopWastedLives, Manchester on 11:57pm Sun 13 Jan 08
[quote][bold]observer[/bold] wrote:
One problem over the last 10 years or so has been the reliance on speed cameras alone to contain casualties on our roads. Road policing by specialist officers has been slashed.Traffic officers to give inexperienced young drivers a few words of advice are few and far between.Further education from an extremely basic 'pass the test' variety has been non existant. These things cost money, of course. Shows how interested senior politicos and senior police officers have been.
It's beginning to dawn now that the policy is not working - hence said politcos and senior police officers are shamed into scurrying to be associated with the Telegraphs well meaning and laudable efforts to make a difference.
But isn't 'making a difference' what the LPfRS was supposed to have been doing all this time?
Of course the people who brought the speed camera program back from Australia all those years ago, and those that have administered the scheme since are hardly likely be willing converts from a simplistic 'speed kills' mentality.
I hope the close proximity of the Police and LPfRS in the wasted lives campaign will not cause the Telegraph to hold back on the evolving can of worms that is the speed camera operation at Guide.
In the meantime, a suggestion I would make regarding new drivers of any age would be that they should initially have to learn to ride some form of motor bike. I'm sure the road craft thus learned would improve their future car driving. [/quote] Well said!!!
observer wrote:
One problem over the last 10 years or so has been the reliance on speed cameras alone to contain casualties on our roads. Road policing by specialist officers has been slashed.Traffic officers to give inexperienced young drivers a few words of advice are few and far between.Further education from an extremely basic 'pass the test' variety has been non existant. These things cost money, of course. Shows how interested senior politicos and senior police officers have been.
It's beginning to dawn now that the policy is not working - hence said politcos and senior police officers are shamed into scurrying to be associated with the Telegraphs well meaning and laudable efforts to make a difference.
But isn't 'making a difference' what the LPfRS was supposed to have been doing all this time?
Of course the people who brought the speed camera program back from Australia all those years ago, and those that have administered the scheme since are hardly likely be willing converts from a simplistic 'speed kills' mentality.
I hope the close proximity of the Police and LPfRS in the wasted lives campaign will not cause the Telegraph to hold back on the evolving can of worms that is the speed camera operation at Guide.
In the meantime, a suggestion I would make regarding new drivers of any age would be that they should initially have to learn to ride some form of motor bike. I'm sure the road craft thus learned would improve their future car driving.
Posted by: yimitier, lancashire on 6:22pm Wed 30 Apr 08
These unholy alliances between the press & local authorities tend to suppress the real facts! Check out :
http://patmosisland.
net/
for the real interests of these people - money!
These unholy alliances between the press & local authorities tend to suppress the real facts! Check out :
http://patmosisland.
net/
for the real interests of these people - money!
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