Campaign for new driver restrictions gains support following teenager’s death

A mother’s initiative advocating for stricter regulations on recently qualified young drivers has received backing from Cumbria’s Members of Parliament, as she prepares to observe another anniversary of her daughter’s birth. Caitlin Huddleston and her friend Skye Mitchell, both 18 years old and from Millom, tragically died in a collision on the A595 near Barrow, Cumbria, in July 2017. Sharron Huddleston, Caitlin’s mother, has been championing a graduated driving licence (GDL) – a system designed to prevent young drivers from transporting passengers under 21 for a duration of up to six months after successfully completing their driving tests. A letter, also endorsed by the county’s police, fire, and crime commissioner, has been dispatched to the transport secretary, requesting her support for the proposed scheme. At the time of the two teenagers’ deaths, Ms Mitchell had obtained her driving licence four months prior. Mrs. Huddleston and her family would have been commemorating her daughter’s 26th birthday on November 23. “Since I launched Caitlin’s Campaign, I’ve been overwhelmed by the support I’ve received,” she stated. Mrs. Huddleston further expressed her delight at securing the support of Labour’s commissioner David Allen, Labour MPs Markus Campbell-Savours, Josh MacAlister, Julie Minns, Michelle Scrogham, and Liberal Democrat Tim Farron. In their correspondence to Transport Secretary Louise Haigh, they noted that other nations which implemented a similar programme had experienced a reduction in serious injury from crashes ranging between 20% and 40%. They added: “This is not a punishment for our young people, it’s not about restricting their freedom, it’s about saving lives and ensuring that young people have experience driving independently before they take on the responsibility of driving with their peers in the car.” Last month, a spokesperson for the Department for Transport indicated that the GDL was not currently under consideration and that the department was exploring alternative strategies to enhance the safety of young drivers. Presently in the UK, new drivers’ licences can be revoked if they accumulate six or more penalty points within two years of passing their test, whereas more seasoned drivers can face disqualification with 12 or more penalty points within a three-year period. Connect with BBC Cumbria on X, Facebook, Nextdoor, and Instagram. Submit your story ideas to northeastandcumbria@bbc.co.uk. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for the content of external sites. Information regarding our approach to external linking is available.