A coroner is proposing a ban on new drivers having passengers after the death of two Yorkshire men.
Senior coroner Martin Fleming wants to ban newly qualified drivers from carrying passengers after Hailfax men Joseph Walsh, 19 and his passenger Tobias Barraclough, 18, died after a crash on October 20, 2023. Three other passengers were also in the car when Mr Walsh lost control of his vehicle in a 20mph stretch of Brow Lane, Shelf.
His car then smashed into a “substantial stone wall to the offside of the road before bouncing back from the wall and coming to a stop in the centre of the road”. Mr Walsh was pronounced dead at the scene.
Mr Barraclough was taken to hospital, but died from his injuries on November 12.
One of the many tributes left in Brow Lane, Shelf, in memory of Joe Walsh
Mr Walsh, Mr Barraclough, and the three other passengers – who all sustained injuries during the crash – had been celebrating a birthday in the local pub and drunk alcohol before the tragic event.
According to the coroner for West Yorkshire Western’s report, a postmortem exam revealed Mr Walsh’s blood alcohol level was 145mg/dL and he was found to have also taken cocaine (0.19mg/L) prior to the crash.
In the report, Mr Fleming concluded both deaths were the result of a road traffic collision. He urged for action to be taken to prevent future deaths and urged the Secretary of State for Transport to consider the “appropriateness” of newly qualified drivers carrying “young persons as passengers”.
He said: “Joseph was aged 18 at the time of his death following the collision and had passed his driving test in May 2023.
“This was five months prior to the collision.
“At the time of the collision, he was legally carrying 5 young friends.
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“Currently there are no legal restrictions upon the licences of young and /or newly qualified drivers and the current vehicle licensing regime permits the carrying of young persons as passengers in circumstances such as these
“Young drivers may be more likely to be involved in a collision with similar aged passengers in the car.
“I would ask you to consider the appropriateness of reviewing the current provisions since I am concerned that there will be further like tragic deaths.
“In my opinion action should be taken to prevent future deaths and I believe you (and/or your organisation) have the power to take such action.”
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