Latest news with #WestYorkshireVisionZero
BBC News
25-06-2025
- BBC News
Tighter rules for new drivers backed by deputy mayor
West Yorkshire's deputy mayor for policing and crime - whose own sister was killed by a speeding driver - is backing a campaign for tighter regulations on newly qualified Lowe's sister Debbie was fatally injured on Roundhay Road in Leeds in 1965 aged just three years met other families who have lost loved ones as she called on the government to introduce graduated driving licences (GDLs).She said: "A big change is needed and GDL has been proven to work, improving safety not only for drivers, but all road users." GDLs would impose conditions on new drivers for a period of time after passing their test, allowing them to develop their skills before they obtain a full could include controls over the number of young passengers they are allowed to carry or a zero alcohol limit. Speaking of the loss of her sister, Lowe said: "I was a year old."I never got to know her, I never got to grow up with her."The impact on my family was devastating. My mum and dad never forgot her."Lowe joined other bereaved relatives who are backing the West Yorkshire Vision Zero campaign, which seeks to end all road death and serious injuries in the county by Leeds' Park Square, she met Ian Greenwood, whose daughter Alice, aged 12, was killed by a speeding O'Neill's daughter, also called Alice, aged nine, was killed by a speeding driver who failed to stop at a red Dustain's mother Debbie was killed in a crash. Ms Dustain, aged three at the time, was also in the vehicle and suffered serious Sarah Harrison's mother Mary was killed when a speeding car hit the taxi she was travelling a joint statement they said: "The ongoing impact and devastation of the death of a loved one in these circumstances cannot adequately be put into words."We want to do everything in our power to prevent it from happening to anyone else." Last year, Spen Valley MP Kim Leadbeater introduced her Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) (New Drivers) Bill under the so-called Ten Minute Rule to tighten legislation on newly qualified proposal for graduated driving licences had cross-party support in the House of licences are backed by many road safety and motoring organisations including the AA, the RAC and Brake. Their introduction also has the support of the Association of British who also chairs the Vision Zero partnership, said: "Five of us gathered at the memorial, the same number of people that needlessly die every day on UK roads."We're clear here in West Yorkshire that a big change is needed and GDL has been proven to work, improving safety not only for drivers, but all road users."A Department for Transport spokesperson said that every road death was a "tragedy" and the government was developing a new road safety said: "Whilst we are not considering graduated driving licences, we absolutely recognise that young people are disproportionately victims of tragic incidents on our roads."We are already taking action to tackle this, including through our THINK! campaign, which has a focus on men aged 17-24 as they are four times more likely to be killed or seriously injured than other drivers." Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North or tell us a story you think we should be covering here.
BBC News
31-03-2025
- Automotive
- BBC News
Pudsey residents say cars still speeding in new 20mph zone
Residents living near a new 20mph zone in Leeds have said the reduction in the speed limit has not stopped drivers "racing around".Pudsey was one of six "local centres" across the city where new restrictions were introduced by the council in new signage was installed, those living nearby said the limit is not "enforced" and that traffic calming measures such as speed bumps are City Council said it had monitored average speeds since the zone was set up as part of the West Yorkshire Vision Zero campaign to reduce road deaths. When the BBC visited the area, former ambulance service worker Jon Harris said he had still witnessed dangerous driving a year on from the speed limit being lowered."It's not enforced, there's no sign of any speed bumps, there's nothing," said the added that vehicles still "fly around corners" and that speeding is a "recipe for disaster"."It's just waiting for something to happen, and that's probably what it's going to come to for anything else to happen, other than putting up some '20' signs," he added. He said he also felt anxious about taking his children out in the town centre because "traffic just races around". Hazel White, 74, agreed that people "drive far too fast" in Pudsey."It's a built-up area and I think safety's very important, especially with elderly people who tend to cross the road in strange places," she supported the council's decision to spend money on road safety initiatives."Money should be spent on things that are important," she said. Tony Marnick, who has lived in the area for 23 years, said shops would benefit from the 20mph limit as it could ease congestion."The amount of traffic we get in Pudsey now is amazing," the 79-year-old another passer-by, Robert Lumb, thought that the volume of traffic meant most vehicles were forced to travel thought the 20mph zone was "not really" an effective use of money, adding: "Rather than putting signs up, I'd prefer them to fill the holes in the road, which can cause an accident." Among younger residents, 19-year-old roofing contractor Kye Darby said he regularly saw drivers exceeding the new limit."Cars fly up here - it's a busy area. A lot of elderly people live over here, and there's schools, so you can expect a 20mph limit really."Unless there's a camera, they're not going to stick to it." The 20mph zones have also been introduced in Rothwell, Meanwood, Wetherby, Morley and City Council said these areas were carefully selected and that "roads that are less built-up, or which are intended only to connect places in the city, have been kept at 30mph or above".A spokesperson said: "Once a speed limit has been installed, we check that the average speed is satisfactory."Where average speeds are higher than expected, we can consider traffic calming measures or request that the West Yorkshire Safety Camera Partnership carry out mobile speed camera enforcement." Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
