Road safety campaign MP wins award

Greg Mulholland has worked alongside the family of a teenager from Otley who was killed by a speeding driver.

The MP has now been presented with a Road Safety Award by road safety charity Brake for his campaign for automatic licence suspension.

Jamie Still, 16, of Carlton Street, Otley, died after being knocked down in the town by a drink-driver who drove onto a pavement on New Year’s Eve 2010.

In September last year, Max McRae, 21, was sentenced to four years in prison and banned from driving for five years for causing death by dangerous driving. He was also twice over the legal drink drive limit.

Jamie’s family were told that McRae had been able to continue driving for eight months after killing the teenager.

Jamie’s 13-year-old sister Rebecca launched a petition and campaign calling on the government to change the law.

The Leeds North West MP asked the Prime Minister to consider changing the law and has secured a debate.

Julie Townsend, Brake deputy chief executive, said: “Greg’s support of Jamie Still’s family and their campaign has been instrumental in bringing their cause to Parliament. It’s unacceptable that those charged with causing death by dangerous or careless driving do not have their licence automatically suspended.”

“It means reckless, selfish drivers are allowed to keep driving, sometimes for many months, risking further casualties. That’s why we’re backing Greg and the family of Jamie Still in their campaign to change the law.”

The MP added: “The unimaginable loss Jamie’s family suffered when he was killed was compounded by having to endure eight months knowing that the man who killed him was allowed to continue driving, despite the clear recklessness of his actions. As an MP I am in a privileged position to be able to raise issues like this.”