Stone councillors urged to help keep young drivers safe

Gnosall Parish Council and Staffordshire County Council organised an event for young drivers, just months after 20-year-old Sam Myatt died following a crash.

His car left the road and hit a tree along the A518 between Haughton and Stafford, just 13 weeks after he had passed his driving test.

Now Stafford Borough’s Local Policing Team (LPT) is hoping to run similar sessions for young motorists in other areas – and at a recent Stone Town Council meeting community leaders were told more about Staffordshire Police’s drive to improve road safety.

Stafford Borough LPT Commander Chief Inspector Gemma Ward said: “Our biggest risk factor for road safety in Stafford Borough are young drivers and rural roads. For Stone that’s really relevant as we have some real opportunities to prevent fatal crashes by addressing the issues.

“Unfortunately, earlier this year, a young man died in a fatal road collision near Gnosall. His car left the road and hit a tree.

“Gnosall Parish Council has recognised the risks associated with young drivers and rural roads and put together a young driver awareness session. It was an event open to young drivers and people who have just passed their driving test.

“It’s something we would like to roll out from Gnosall and we would like some support from yourselves to roll it out here because there are certainly some risk factors in Stone.”

Councillor Jill Hood, who chaired the meeting, responded: “It is really interesting and we do appreciate the work you do in town.

“I’m sure all of us are interested in the safer driver promotion you are putting together.”

The free event in Gnosall offered talks by a local driving instructor, road safety officers and Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service. It was aimed at 16-21-year olds considering driving, those already learning and those who had recently passed their test.

Topics covered included speed management, driving on higher speed rural roads, challenging light and weather conditions, vehicle maintenance, how to manage distractions such as phones and music and the affects of impairments like alcohol, drugs and tiredness.

Mr Myatt’s mother Liz Stanley welcomed the Gnosall event, which was put together by the parish council and Staffordshire County Council.

Speaking before the October 7 session she said: “Every young person who undertakes this training is potentially setting themselves up for a lifetime of safe driving.

“By catching drivers young, I firmly believe it could save lives in the future.

“I fully support this event as an ongoing legacy to Sam and give thanks to the organisers for facilitating this event.”