THE FAMILY of Luca Skivington who died in a car crash in Beaconsfield, has rallied with other parents to form the campaign group, Forget-me-not Families Uniting.
40 parents, including Luca's mum and dad Glenn and Michelle Skivington are demanding change over rising concerns over the disproportionately high fatalities of young drivers and passengers on UK roads.
These parents, all who have tragically lost sons and daughters in car accidents caused by young drivers, implore the Government to swiftly act to stem the alarming rise of such incidents.
The unnerving fact is that although people aged between 17–24 comprise only 7 per cent of the total driving population, they are involved in 24 per cent of all collisions resulting in death or significant injury in Great Britain.
In 2022 alone, a shocking 4,935 people, including individuals in separate cars and pedestrians of all ages, were killed or seriously injured in crashes involving at least one young driver.
Among the victims was the 17-year-old son of Glenn and Michelle Skivington from Flackwell Heath, who lost his life when his inexperienced friend Will Sherriff, only six weeks post-driving test, failed to control his powerful BMW car, leading to a horrific accident on a bend.
The Forget-me-not Families Uniting are campaigning for the Graduated Driving Licensing introduction, which is targeted at reducing road death and severe injuries.
They also advocate for an expert panel to advise the Government on outlining the UK's Graduated Driving Licensing scheme.
This plea comes hot on the heels of a powerful appeal driven by key transport safety, health, and psychology experts, urging national politicians to act on proven measures to protect young lives on roads.
This group was created by Sharron Huddleston, Chris and Nicole Taylor, and Dr Ian Greenwood through their tireless advocacy for the Graduated Driving Licensing implementation in the aftermath of their daughters' premature deaths.
Commenting on the issue, Dr Greenwood, a PhD holder in road safety policy, said: "I am delighted that so many academics and experts have supported this letter.
"The evidence for Graduated Driving Licensing is strong and has been available for many years, and I hope politicians will listen to the experts and act."
He further lamented the stark reality that his daughter might still be alive today, awaiting her 28th birthday if such measures had been instated sooner.
Forget-me-not Families Uniting has secured support from several organisations such as RoadPeace, Brake, and The Road Victims’ Trust.
"We’re proud to come together to support these families and this growing movement.
"These families deserve to be heard and we hope to see action finally taken by the Government," they shared jointly.
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