Did you know that young male drivers are four times more likely to be killed or seriously injured in road traffic accidents?
Or that young people aged 16-24 in Wales make up 11% of the population, but 22% of casualties?
Nearly half of all accidents involving young drivers that led to serious injury or death between 2019 and 2023 in the UK took place on rural roads.
The figures are shocking. But we must never forget that behind every statistic is a life gone too soon. A family destroyed.
Just like that of 17- year-old Olivia Alkir, who was killed in a tragic road traffic collision near Ruthin in 2019, and whose story I shared in Parliament last month.
During the debate on Road Safety for Rural Drivers, I asked the Minister to leave no stone unturned in her quest to keep young people safe on our roads; to explore the further use of technology such as telematics, and to learn from other countries who have implemented different regimes for young drivers.
I’m pleased that the Government has said it will be developing a new Road Safety Strategy – the first in over a decade, but there is still much more to do.
Olivia’s mother, Jo, wants her story to be shared in schools all over the UK. To show young people the potential consequences of dangerous driving and make them think twice before getting behind the wheel.
I’ve committed to asking the Secretary of State for Education and Welsh Education Ministers to ask if we can make this happen. I sincerely hope we can.
