John Leech MP supports Road Safety Week campaign to cut young driver crashes in the North West

John Leech, MP for Manchester Withington and Liberal Democrat Transport Spokesperson in Parliament, is joining Road Safety Week calls by Brake, the road safety charity, for urgent action to cut the numbers of young driver crashes in the North West.

More than one in three young people (35%) in the North West has driven or been a passenger in a road race, finds a survey of 314 15-25 year-olds across the region. The survey is released today at the Manchester launch of National Road Safety Week - co-ordinated by road safety charity Brake and supported by ASDA, Direct Line and Green Flag Motoring Assistance.

Government statistics uncovered by Brake reveal the appalling extent of deaths and injuries among the region's young people in road crashes - the biggest killer of 15-24 year-olds.(1)18 young people are killed or seriously injured in vehicles every week on North West roads.(2) In the region in 2005, 83 drivers, passengers and motorcyclists aged 15-25 were killed and 865 were seriously injured.(3) Serious injuries include brain damage, spinal injuries and limb-loss.

John Leech MP says:

"I fully support this campaign Brake to raise awareness of the terrible toll of young lives on our roads in the North West. It is absolutely unacceptable that 18 young people are killed or seriously injured on North West roads every week. Ultimately, young drivers themselves must learn to drive more safely. However, the government can help to make this happen by instigating measures such as controls on newly qualified drivers and increased road safety awareness campaigns. They must take these measures on board urgently to stem the number of crashes involving young drivers."

Cathy Keeler, head of campaigns at Brake, says:

"Every week in the North West, more families and communities suffer tragic deaths and injuries caused by risk-taking young drivers. Yet road deaths and injuries are preventable - through young people taking more responsibility for their actions on roads, and through a combined effort by parents, communities and our Government to help young drivers stay safe. We're calling on all young people in the region to commit to staying within speed limits, never driving on drink or drugs and always belting up. Even if you feel confident behind the wheel, you're never immune to the potentially life-shattering consequences of taking risks on our roads."

Brake is calling on the Government to take action to tackle road death and injury involving young people. Brake wants:

• A system of graduated driver licensing (GDL), so there is a minimum period of learning to drive, followed by a provisional licence period where newly-qualified drivers have restrictions placed upon them, such as night-time driving curfews and limits on numbers of passenger. GDL radically reduced car crash injuries to 15-19 year-olds (by 23%) when introduced in New Zealand (4).
• Compulsory road safety education in schools for all ages, so that young people develop an understanding of the risks of the road by the time they leave school and learn to drive.
• Year-round prime-time TV advertising aimed at young people on key safe driving topics such as speeding, drink and drug driving and seat belt use.
• More investment in dedicated traffic police and enforcement technology, such as Automatic Number Plate Recognition cameras, designed to catch unlicensed and uninsured drivers.

The facts about young driver and passenger casualties in the UK:

Nationally, road crashes are the biggest killer of 15-24 year-olds (5).

In 2005 in the UK, 846 drivers, passengers and motorbike riders aged 15-25 were killed, 7,362 were seriously injured and 62,146 were slightly injured. That's one 15-25 year-old driver or passenger killed or seriously injured every hour (6).

One in eight car licence holders are aged under 25 (7), yet one in three (33%) drivers who die on UK roads are under 25 (up from 29% in 2004) (8).

One in four (26%) convictions for causing death by dangerous driving are against under-21s (9).

About Brake's survey:

Brake surveyed 4,486 young people aged 15-25 across the UK, including 314 in the North West. Surveys were completed anonymously by students in secondary schools, sixth form colleges and further education colleges.

Other results from Brake's survey of 314 young people in the North West include:

Nearly four in ten (37%) have driven without a licence

One in sixteen (6%) has driven a stolen vehicle

One in five (21%) has been a passenger with a driver who they knew was unlicensed, uninsured, or who had stolen the car

A third (33%) have been a passenger in a car driven by a driver on drink or drugs.

More than four in ten (43%) don't always belt up in the back

Out of the young people surveyed who drive:

Nearly half (49%) break 30mph limits by 10mph or more

More than one in five (22%) has overtaken at speed when they are unsure of what is coming in the other direction. Of these, nearly three-quarters (73%) are male

One in four (26%) has driven at more than 70mph on a rural road. Of these, seven in ten (69%) are male.

More than one in five (22%) drive after drinking alcohol

One in seven (14%) drive on illegal drugs.

ENDS

Notes to editors:

Brake is an independent national road safety charity. Brake exists to stop the 9 deaths and 89 serious injuries that happen on UK roads every day and to care for families bereaved and seriously injured in road crashes. Brake produces educational literature, runs community training programmes and runs events including Road Safety Week (6 - 12 November 2006). Brake's Fleet Safety Forum provides up-to-date fleet safety resources for fleet managers. BrakeCare, Brake's support division, cares for road crash victims through a helpline and other services.

(1) Deaths by age, sex and underlying cause, 2005 registrations: Health Statistics Quarterly 30

(2) Figures obtained by Brake from the Department for Transport, 2006

(3 )Figures obtained by Brake from the Department for Transport, 2006

(4) Figures from Land Transport New Zealand, 2006

(5) Deaths by age, sex and underlying cause, 2005 registrations: Health Statistics Quarterly 30

(6) Figures obtained by Brake from the Department for Transport, 2006

(7) Figures obtained Driving Standards Agency's press office, 2006

(8) Statistics obtained by Brake from the Department for Transport on Great Britain casualties and statistics from www.psni.police.uk (Police Service of Northern Ireland) for Northern Ireland

(9) Motoring Offences and Breath Test statistics England and Wales 2004 (Home Office, 2005)

(10) Figures obtained by Brake from the Department for Transport, 2006. Regional statistics include Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Merseyside, Cumbria and Cheshire police force areas.