Clwyd West MP, David Jones, this week hosted an event at Westminster focusing on improving road safety for newly-qualified drivers.
The event was a continuation of the campaign launched by Joanna Alkir of Efenechtyd, Ruthin, whose 17 year-old daughter, Olivia, was killed when travelling as a passenger in a fast-moving car driven by a young man who had passed his driving test only the previous day.
Joanna is pressing for cars driven by new drivers to be compulsorily fitted with a “black box” speed limiter.
She also believes only experienced drivers should be permitted to travel as passengers in cars driven by newly-qualified drivers for at least one year after qualification.
The event, at Parliament’s Portcullis House, was attended by a large number of MPs and peers, as well as representatives of police, fire and rescue services, the insurance industry and local authorities from across the country. North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Andy Dunbobbin was also present.
A video entitled ‘Olivia’s Story’ was also shown.
David Jones MP said:
‘This was a hugely successful event. Joanna has been campaigning for improved road safety as a memorial to Olivia, who lost her young life in such tragic circumstances.
‘The campaign will now continue at Westminster, and I intend to press for a debate in the autumn, calling on the Department for Transport to legislate for proportionate restrictions on young drivers until they have gained a reasonable level of experience.
‘As Joanna said, Olivia, who was so tragically denied the opportunity to achieve her potential in life, can now perhaps achieve something important through her death.’
