Becca backing for global campaign

Becca Dale: “I think it’s shocking there are so many deaths on the roads”

Decade of action on road safety launched
A TEENAGER who lost her brother in a road collision has backed a global road-safety campaign launched today.

Becca Dale — who set up the Every Life Matters road safety campaign after Chris Dale (15) was killed by a young driver as he crossed Lees Road two years ago — is asking people to pledge support for the Decade of Action for Road Safety, run by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and FIA Foundation.

Supporters are urged to wear a yellow road safety tag — the symbol of the UN Decade of Action, to raise awareness of the threat of road deaths worldwide.

The AA is giving away more than 1,000 free Drive Smart lessons aimed at new drivers, after a survey of 18,500 of its members showed only one in 10 knew that road deaths are still the biggest cause of accidental death among the young.

In 2009, 138 teenage drivers were killed on the roads compared with 26 teenagers stabbed to death.

Miss Dale (19), who has seen the Every Life Matters campaign secure the installation of two speed cameras on the road where Chris died in 2009, said: “It seems like a great idea and we will support anything we can to help. Road safety is a real issue for young people and for everybody.

“I think it’s shocking there are so many deaths on the roads — all of which can be totally preventable and the people affected by it are innocent victims. It shouldn’t be that way.

“We are now moving forward with Split Second — a drama we have worked on with Oldham Theatre Workshops and Oldham Youth Council, to get it performed in schools.”

AA president Edmund King, said: “In the UK teenagers are more likely to die on the roads than from stabbings or drugs. This is often due to lack of driving experience or the wrong attitude.

“Across the world this campaign could save five million lives and prevent 50 million serious injuries.

“In the UK we have the safest roads in the world but much more needs to be done as road deaths are still the biggest cause of accidental death among the young.”

Lord Robertson, chairman of the Commission for Global Road Safety said: “The new campaign is a very significant moment for humanity.

“We are going to take action and deal with the problem in a serious, achievable way.”

l New drivers wishing to register for the free Drive Smart lessons being offered by the AA, or parents who wish to register teenagers, should go to the AA website at www.theaa.com/drivesmart.