Bradford dad’s plea to drivers after daughter’s road death
The Vision Zero initiative comes after the deaths of 66 people and more than 5,000 serious injuries on West Yorkshire’s roads last year. A key part of Vision Zero is educating drivers and raising awareness about actions they can take to make our roads safer. Dr Ian Greenwood, of Queensbury, was among those who attended an event in Wakefield today to discuss the campaign and show their support for it.
His daughter Alice died in October 2008 after her mum’s car was hit as they drove back to West Yorkshire[1] from a family trip. The other vehicle’s 18-year-old driver, who himself died in the collision alongside his 16-year-old passenger, had been part of a convoy of cars racing each other along the A52 in Derbyshire. Four teenagers were jailed for causing death by careless driving the following year.
Alice’s younger sister, Clara, and her mum, Juliette, both suffered serious injuries in the collision but thankfully survived. Dr Greenwood, 58, said: “We get on a plane, we don’t expect to die. “We get on a train, we don’t expect to die.
“But five people will die today on UK roads – and I think that’s completely unacceptable. “We need to change that – so I’m supporting this very important campaign. “As a result of what happened in 2008, my daughter is forever 12 – I loved her dearly, I still love her, and I miss her every day.”
Dr Ian Greenwood (Image: Mike Simmonds/Newsquest) Addressing drivers, Dr Greenwood said: “Please think twice when you’re behind the wheel. “If you’re out and have a drink, don’t drive – use public transport, get a taxi, walk.
“Don’t take drugs and drive. “Don’t speed. “Don’t use your phone while driving.
“If you’re not going to put your seatbelt on, think about the potential consequences. “It’s really not that difficult. “Most people who live in West Yorkshire drive really carefully – most drive sensibly and comply with rules.
“There are, of course, some people who won’t listen to me – and what I’d say to them is the police will get you eventually. “I don’t want anyone else to have to go through what I and so many people go through every single day.” Vision Zero is supported by local authorities, including West Yorkshire Combined Authority, as well as the emergency services.
Left to right: Paul Jeffrey, West Yorkshire Police’s head of prosecutions and casualty prevention unit, Dr Ian Greenwood, Tracy Brabin, West Yorkshire mayor, Alison Lowe, deputy mayor for policing and crime (Image: Mike Simmonds/Newsquest) Tracy Brabin, mayor of West Yorkshire, said: “We have a plan to eradicate all fatalities and serious injuries on our roads by 2040 as part of Vision Zero. “Of course, it’s not going to easy.
“Devolution gives us an opportunity to look at our road structures – we’ve spent substantial amounts of money on new junctions, crossings and so on. “It’s also about campaigning for behaviour change among drivers – not speeding, not driving carelessly, not driving dangerously, not driving under the influence, not using your mobile phone behind the wheel.” Asked if it is realistic to get to zero road deaths by 2040, she said: “Quite simply, we all have to focus on eradicating deaths on our roads.”
Alison Lowe, deputy mayor for policing and crime, said Vision Zero was very important to her as her three-year-old sister was killed in a road crash. “We all need to do something,” she added. “We’re doing lots of things, including working with West Yorkshire Safety Camera Partnership and asking members of the public to tell us about stretches of road they’re most concerned about, and we’re implementing average speed cameras and mobile speed camera vans – speeding is a huge contributing factor in road deaths.”
Paul Jeffrey, West Yorkshire Police’s head of prosecutions and casualty prevention unit, added: “Vision Zero offers new opportunities to work together with communities and other stakeholders to make a real difference.
“It’s not about police arresting more people or taking more people to court – of course that remains an option for serious offending or repeat offending – but it’s actually about shifting the emphasis on to education and training and promoting behavioural changes.
“If we can stop just one person dying, that’s a success.”