Mother of teen killed in road crash tragedy welcomes parliamentary debate on licence changes
The mother of a teenager killed in a tragic crash that also claimed the lives of three of his friends has welcomed a parliamentary debate on licence changes.
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Shrewsbury MP, Julia Buckley, confirmed earlier this week that she had secured a Westminster debate on 'road safety for young drivers', which will take place on January 28.
It comes after Crystal Owen, whose son Harvey, 17, died in a tragic North Wales crash, has campaigned for 'phased' licences for new drivers - including measures such as limiting the period new drivers can carry passengers in their vehicles.
Harvey, from Shrewsbury, was killed along with Hugo Morris, 18, Jevon Hirst, 16, and Wilf Fitchett, 17, in the incident in North Wales in November 2023.
Confirming the scheduled debate Mrs Buckley said: "That tragic and horrific incident in North Wales is one of the reasons I’ve called for a debate around the safety of youngsters on our roads."
Reacting to the announcement Mrs Owen said she hoped the debate would force people to "confront the scale of the problem", adding that the proposals are not intended to 'take away freedoms' and are instead meant to ensure young people live 'long, full lives'.
She said: "I'm deeply grateful to our local Member of Parliament, Julia Buckley, for her unwavering support in my campaign for safer driving laws.
"I believe this is a public health issue that has been ignored for far too long, and it's crucial we take action to protect lives on the road.
"For anyone who thinks they can’t or won’t be affected, we all thought that… Until we were. Twenty four per cent of the people killed in young driver crashes are the driver themselves, 26 per cent are the passengers and 50 per cent are people not even in the car.
"For parents like me, the very idea of 'freedom' has been forever altered. The dreams of watching your child grow, graduate, or experience the joys of adulthood have been stolen in an instant. Our child’s freedom was taken from them, and no argument, no law, can undo that irreplaceable loss.
"That is why the proposed safety measures in the petition are not about taking away freedoms, they are about giving young people the chance to live long, full lives. These measures are about protecting the very futures of our children, ensuring they are not taken from us before their time."
Mrs Owen thanked Mrs Buckley MP for her support.
She said: "Thanks to Julia’s tireless advocacy, a back bench parliamentary debate on these vital safety measures will take place next Tuesday, 28th January, at 9:30 am. I am deeply grateful for her role in securing this opportunity to make our roads safer for all families and for standing with me in the hope of sparing others the lifelong grief I now carry.
"I hope this debate forces everyone to confront the scale of the problem. Every day without action means more families torn apart, more lives lost.
"Protecting young drivers, their passengers, and other road users should never be a matter of political division, it's a moral issue."
