I am writing this petition with a heavy heart and a sense of urgency. 

My sister Laura Sone-Demetrious – an angel in disguise 

She had lost her life tragically caused by dangerous driving on the A10 in January 2024. Her life was cut short too early due to circumstances that could have been prevented.

The A10, a crucial road in Enfield, continues to pose a significant risk to drivers, passengers, and pedestrians due to the lack of sufficient safety measures. 

National transport statistics show that the A10 has a higher-than-average accident rate compared to similar roads in the UK. This is a factual reminder of the need for urgent intervention.

In 2019 there were 1,752 fatalities and 25,945 seriously injured casualties due to dangerous driving in the UK and in 2020, there were 1,160 fatalities, 1,580 serious injured casualties and 22,575 slight injured casualties resulting from dangerous driving incidents (Source: Department for Transport). These deaths and injuries are not statistics. They are friends, family members and loved ones whose lives have been cut short by irresponsible actions on the roads.

The loss of my sister, an event that has caused unbearable grief, should not be in vain. It should ignite us into making the A10 a safer travel route for everybody. Therefore, we call upon the Local Highway Authorities in Enfield, for a comprehensive examination and renovation of the current road safety measures on the A10. It's not just about making the A10 safe; it's about ensuring that no family must endure the pain of losing a loved one unnecessarily.

 

Our specific requests are as follows:

• Enhanced Safety Measures: Implement additional safety measures such as more pedestrian crossings, improved signage, better lighting, and speed control measures, including speed cameras and traffic calming installations.
• Increased Surveillance: Increase police patrols and install more CCTV cameras along the A10 to monitor and deter dangerous driving behaviours.

 

We also urge for the government to review the driving laws and put the urgencies in place.

Our specific requests are as follows:

• Review of Sentencing Guidelines: Advocate for harsher penalties for those convicted of dangerous driving, particularly those who show no remorse after causing harm.
• Mandatory Black Boxes: Require all vehicles, especially those driven by new and young drivers, to be equipped with black boxes that monitor driving behaviour. These devices can provide valuable data to enforce safe driving practices and reduce dangerous driving incidents.
• Graduated Licensing System: Implement a graduated licensing system for new drivers, ensuring they gain experience under less risky conditions before obtaining a full license. This could include restrictions on nighttime driving, passenger limits, and mandatory supervised driving hours.
• Engine Restrictions for New and Young Drivers: Limit new and young drivers to vehicles with a maximum engine capacity of 1.5 litres and 75 horsepower. This measure can help reduce the risk of high-speed accidents and encourage safer driving habits among inexperienced drivers.

 

We urge local authorities to take immediate action by implementing these measures along the A10 and reviewing sentencing guidelines for dangerous drivers. By doing so, we can hope to prevent further tragedies like my sister's from happening again.

We urge you to join us in this pressing call for a change.

Sign this petition for safer roads and save lives.