MPs, business leaders and emergency workers attended a major conference organised by the Lancashire Telegraph as part of its bid to cut accidents involving young drivers.
Around 150 people, including many young people, road safety experts, bereaved families and the Lancashire Partnership for Road Safety turned up to the event that forms part of the paper’s Wasted Lives campaign.
The campaign is pushing for learner-driver reforms for under 25s and a host of educational programmes. It is calling for the driving age to be raised to 18, the introduction of a graduated licence scheme, restrictions on young drivers carrying passengers and limits on engine sizes for learners.
In the UK four people are killed or seriously injured in an accident involving drivers under the age of 25.
Blackburn MP and justice minister Jack Straw said there would be “changes to the law” and that insurance companies could also help to enforce changes rather than legislation.
He said: “I assure you we are going to take action.”
The event also saw the premiere of the Missing Matthew DVD about the Hannon family, who lost their 22-year-old son in a crash after he racing a friend in Blackburn.
The first part of the DVD, to be played in schools, shows how Ann and Terry Hannon coped with the death of their son. The second part is a teaching tool for parents which includes advice from a police officer on responsible driving.
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