Graduated driving licences 'could have saved my brother’, says bereaved sister from Oxfordshire
Two years on from the fatal crash in Marcham, Elliot Pullen’s family continue campaigning for graduated driving licences
A bereaved sister from Oxfordshire is continuing to campaign for Graduated Driving Licences (GDL), as today marks two years since the fatal crash which killed her brother.
GDL’s would introduce restrictions to young drivers who’ve just passed their tests, aimed at preventing young deaths on roads.
It could include young drivers not being allowed on the roads between midnight and 5am, and a limit on the number of under 19-year-old passengers.
On 20 June, 2023, a car crash in Oxfordshire took the which killed three boys – 18 year olds, Ethan Goddard and Daniel Hancock as well as Elliot Pullen aged 17.
The driver was travelling at speeds of up to 100mph while under the influence of laughing gas, before his car hit a tree in the village of Marcham, Oxfordshire.
Elliot’s sister, Mia Pullen, 21, says GDL’s are “really important because if they had been in place, my brother Elliot would not have been killed”.
Speaking to Greatest Hits Radio, she said: “The past two years, we have been going through hell trying to cope with the loss of Elliot.
“It's completely changed our whole family. How do you even go on after losing such a young person with such a life ahead of them, in such a shocking and unexpected way.
“I've met so many families now who have gone through exactly the same thing - losing a son or a daughter or a sister or brother - and it just effects everyone's lives in such an awful way.
“If we can do anything to stop that from happening, that would just be amazing.”
Graduated Driving Licences (GDLs) have been introduced in a number of other countries including Canada, where it takes at least 20 months for a new driver to gain a full driving licence by earning in stages.
Although, the Government say there are “not considering” the scheme”, previously stating that it “unfairly” restricts young people.
Ms Pullen said: “As much as you say it will take away the freedom and the rights of young people, my brother's freedom and his rights have been taken away forever.
“He's no longer here and I'm sure you'd rather put these restrictions in place for the first six months to 12 months, than lose their lives forever.”
A Department for Transport spokesperson said: “Every death on our roads is a tragedy and our thoughts remain with the families of everyone who has lost a loved one in this way.
“Whilst we are not considering Graduated Driving Licences, we absolutely recognise that young people are disproportionately victims of tragic incidents on our roads.
"We are determined to tackle this, including through our THINK! campaign, which has a focus on men aged 17-24 as they are four times more likely to be killed or seriously injured than other drivers."