Cumbrian mum unites bereaved families in campaign to change driving licence laws
Caitlin's Campaign is calling for a Graduated Driving Licence to be introduced in the UK
The mother of a Cumbrian teenager killed in a horror crash is bringing together bereaved families from across the Country as she tries to change licencing laws.
18-year-old Caitlin Huddleston died when the car she was travelling in, driven by her 18-year-old friend, who also died, crashed on the A595 in Millom in July 2017. The crash was put down to the inexperience of the newly qualified driver.
"Just reading about car-fulls of young teenagers being killed on our roads is absolutely heart-breaking."
Sharron Huddleston has been campaigning for Graduated Driving Licensing (GDL) ever since. Now, with the support of others, she's formed an action group – Forget-me-not Families Uniting – to bring together other bereaved families, who have experienced the tragic loss of a young family member in a road crash and are supporting the introduction of GDL in the UK.
Sharron says, "Just reading about car-fulls of young teenagers being killed on our roads is absolutely heart-breaking. I felt that my voice alone wasn't being heard by Government and that's why I feel that all parents voices together, calling for this life-saving law, we will be heard."
She went on to say, "The year that Caitlin was killed in 2017, she was one of the young 55 passengers that was killed in a young drivers car. That's equivalent to two classes of secondary school pupils killed as passengers in cars yearly."
One element of the Graduated Driving Licence system is that young newly qualified drivers do not carry friends/peer-age passengers for a limited time after passing their driving test (six months or up to a year), until they have gained more experience driving solo or with an older experienced driver. Evidence
Sharron has teamed up with RoadPeace to appeal for other families to get in touch.
A post on their website reads, 'We are inviting anyone who has experienced the tragic loss of a young family member due to a road traffic collision where a young driver has been involved, to please get in touch with us to share your story. Also, we invite you to join our bereaved families’ group campaigning and raising awareness of the need for GDL for young drivers and their young passengers.
If you would like to become involved or have any questions regarding this issue please contact me by email at sharronhudd70@gmail.com”.