REDDITCH’S MP has met with the Roads and local Transport Minister, to discuss introducing new criminal charges for drivers who fail to remain at the scene of a fatal or serious injury collision.
Rachel Maclean has been working with the road safety campaigners and bereaved families, including Action Vision Zero and RoadPeace West Midlands, and is supporting their Remain and Report campaign.
Earlier this year, Mrs Maclean held a drop-in event in Parliament where MPs were able to talk with those who have been bereaved through road traffic collisions where the driver failed to remain at the scene and to discuss why a new criminal offence needs to be created.
She said: “I’m grateful for the Minister Richard Holden’s time to discuss the need for new criminal charges to be introduced to hold hit-and-run drivers to account.
“Once again I’d like to put on record my thanks to Lucy Harrison for her tireless work to push this issue up the agenda. It’s down to her that this issue is now being discussed in Parliament.
“I remain hopeful that we will see the change that is desperately needed.”
Road safety campaigner Lucy Harrison, also a councillor for Batchley and Brockhill, added: “We are delighted to see Rachel is continuing to push this campaign, and that our calls have been discussed with the Transport Minister.
“We are eagerly awaiting the launch of a consultation to cover this issue, which is the next key step.
“Being bereaved or seriously injured as a result of a road traffic collision is horrific – the driver knowingly leaving the scene adds an additional layer of pain.
“We thank Rachel for her excellent work.”
