Tears fell outside Parliament yesterday as bereaved parents, holding banners of their lost children, shared their stories with the media. A BBC journalist was visibly moved as she listened to grieving families speak about their loved ones – young lives lost in road crashes that they believe could have been prevented.

The reporter wiped away tears as bereaved Mum, Nicole Taylor, told her about the death of her daughter, Beccy, in a crash, and showed her pictures of other young people, whose lives were also tragically cut short on the roads.

Members of Forget-me-not Families Uniting (FFU) – many of whom are longstanding RoadPeace members – travelled to Westminster to witness a Parliamentary debate on young driver safety. Their message was clear: Introduce Graduated Driving Licensing (GDL) to reduce young driver crashes and save lives.

A powerful debate in Parliament

The debate, led by Julia Buckley MP, saw 26 MPs voice support for GDL and recognise its potential to reduce crashes involving young drivers.

Notable contributions included:

• Claire Hughes MP, representing Joanna Alkir, whose daughter Olivia was killed in a crash involving a young driver, urged the minister to “leave no stone unturned” in efforts to protect young people.
• Rachel Gilmour MP expressed hope that “we can move the dial on this issue. We owe it to young people to do it.”
• Michelle Scrogham MP, speaking on behalf of Sharron Huddleston, reflected on Caitlin Huddleston’s death in 2017 and the years of campaigning since. She said: “If the government had listened then, Caitlin would still be here, and many others too.”

Government: ‘Not considering GDL’

Future Roads Minister Lilian Greenwood MP acknowledged the devastating impact of young driver crashes and reiterated her commitment to engaging with bereaved families. Yet despite this, and the overwhelming support from her fellow MPs, she reaffirmed that the Government is “not considering GDL” – a position that has deeply saddened and frustrated campaigners.

Howard Jones, CEO of RoadPeace, said: “We are deeply disappointed by the government’s refusal to consider GDL. The evidence is clear: GDL has saved lives in other countries, and it will do the same here.

“We commend the bereaved families who bravely shared their stories to push for change, and we will continue to support their efforts in ensuring that young driver safety remains a priority.”

The role of victims’ voices

The presence of FFU members in Parliament was a powerful reminder of why action is needed. Speaking to journalists, they bravely shared their personal losses, ensuring that the voices of road crash victims were heard.

While no immediate policy changes were announced, the debate demonstrated significant parliamentary support for GDL. The families who attended left Parliament knowing they had made a difference – turning their grief into action to help protect future young drivers.

Together, we will continue to campaign for a form of Graduated Driving Licensing in the UK. We will not give up.

Updated on: 29 January 2025