IT’S GREAT to be back with you following recent political restrictions which ended after the local elections were held in County Durham on 1st May.
Since I last wrote my column I have published my new Police, Crime and Justice Plan, which I will be telling you more about in future editions (visit the below QR code to see my plan).
My new plan outlines in detail how I will work with the Chief Constable and partners to address the policing, crime, and anti-social behaviour priorities you identified during extensive consultation and engagement events we held across County Durham and Darlington.
Road safety and anti-social behaviour were two of the top priorities identified. Vehicle nuisance, tackling off road bikes and electric scooters was the number one anti-social behaviour priority (67%), Drink/Drug Driving (80%) and Dangerous Driving (62%) were the top road policing priorities.
Coincidently, I have also been appointed as the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners (PCC’s) joint lead for Roads Policing. This means I will get the opportunity to make strong representations on behalf of the other 42 PCC’s and residents directly to government ministers, civil servants, and work with charities like Brake and Road Peace and most importantly supporting bereaved families campaigning for changes to legislation to save lives.
Once such campaign I am giving my full backing to is one being led by families from Forget-me-not Families Uniting (FFU) group who are campaigning for urgent measures including Graduated Driving Licenses (GDL) for newly qualified drivers to slash the high number of young driver deaths in the UK.
If successful GDL would gradually introduce young drivers to full driving privileges, with targeted measures to reduce the risk to themselves and others on the roads.
GDL is already in place in some countries and typically involves restricting newly qualified drivers under 21 from driving at night and carrying passengers of a similar age for six months to reduce their exposure to high-risk situations before they are ready – a measure proven to reduce fatalities by up to 40%.
Why I am backing the calls for GDL
• Young Drivers aged 17-24 are involved in 20% of fatal or serious crashes but make up only 7% of licence holders.
• The risk is highest in the first few months of driving, especially when carrying passengers.
• In 2023, 4,959 people were killed or seriously injured in crashes involving at least one young driver.
• Adolescents are more prone to taking risks and being distracted by peers due to ongoing brain development, making them particularly vulnerable as new drivers.
• Countries like Canada and Australia have seen a 20-40% reduction in crashes involving young drivers thanks to GDL, proving its effectiveness in saving lives.
The number of young and inexperienced drivers killed on our roads is unacceptable and something I refuse to take lying down. We must continue to use every tool in the book to protect further potential victims and their families and indeed all road users by eliminating unnecessary risk.
As your Police and Crime Commissioner I am determined to play a key role in shaping a safer, more responsible driving culture for future generations by working with national decision makers to bring reform and change.
By Joy Allen – Durham Police and Crime Commissioner
