It was a privilege to meet with Calum and Frank to discuss the work they are doing to educate young people in local schools on the impact of dangerous driving.
Their efforts are powered by their own experience following the death of their partner and daughter respectively. Chadderton mum Frankie Jules-Hough, was just 38 years old when she was killed by a driver speeding at 123 mph whilst filming himself on the M66 motorway.
The impact killed Frankie and her unborn baby Neeve and injured two other children in the car. The devastating loss was cruel in that it was entire avoidable if not for the selfish and thoughtless actions of Adil Iqbal, who was later sentenced.
Oldham sees some of the highest levels of death and injury on the roads, almost entirely a result of driver error, recklessness and dangerous driving are an all too common sight on roads across the town. The lack of appreciation of the human cost of collisions and the power of a vehicle to cause harm is seemingly not appreciated, but it needs to be if we are to bring down the deaths and injuries caused.
The facts can’t be ignored. Since 2014, 45 lives have been lost and 737 injured on Oldham’s roads. Last year alone 8 lives were lost, 6 of those were pedestrians.
That is why the work Calum and Frank are doing in educating at a younger age is so important and has my full support.
They are both an inspiration.
Jim McMahon OBE MP 