I didn't mean to kill you, I was driving too fast (Islington Liberal Democrats)

Islington Liberal Democrats <Islington_ld@cix.co.uk>

I didn't mean to kill you, I was driving too fast

February 16, 2005 6:30 PM

Lib Dem Councillor Jyoti Vaja, with the Mayor Joan Coupland were out on Valentines Day advising people not to put their loved ones lives at risk by speeding.

The 'For My Girlfriend' campaign has been organised to highlight the dangers of drink driving to young people. The campaign includes handing out valentines cards with the message "To my valentine, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to kill you, I was driving to fast, I miss you, X."

The Lib Dem Council is promoting this campaign of the back of its success in improving road safety in the borough. Last year the number of road deaths in the borough was down to 168 from 202, and the number of children killed or seriously injured on the roads fell by 75%.

Lib Dem Councillor Jyoti Vaja said

"I'm giving up my Valentines to do this because it is such an important campaign. Young men need to understand the dangers of speeding in cars, and the consequences it can have.

"So many young people are killed on the roads in tragic but avoidable accidents, a hard hitting campaign like this brings that message home. Our recent drink driving campaign was very successful and we hope this will have similar results."

As part of the campaign Cllr Vaja and the Mayor will be handing out packs that include valentines cards and leaflets with images of crashed cars and red roses to Arsenal vans on their way to the valentines match.

Local Universities, bars and Sixth Form Centres are also holding awareness events

83% of young males describe themselves as confident drivers and yet 30% road accidents involve men under 20 17-24 year old men are more likely to be involved in a road accident than any other age group. 65% of all accidents in which people are killed or seriously injured happen on roads where the speed limit is 40mph or less at 35mph you are twice as likely to kill someone as you are at 30mph. Hit at 40mph a 7 year old has a 80% chance of dying Hit at 30mph a 7 year old has a 80% chance of survival More young women are killed as passengers than as drivers.