http://www.iomonline.co.im/ViewArticle2 ... ID=1190388
BEREAVED FATHER AGAINST SPEED LIMIT
AS a father who lost a teenage daughter in a car crash, many would expect Steve Osborne to champion a national speed limit.
But Steve, 53, an analyst programmer for the Isle of Man Government, has warned against any knee-jerk reaction to the recent spate of accidents on our roads.
His daughter Kristy was only 16 when she died in a car crash on her way to a family wedding in August 2001.
He said: 'You learn to live with it but you never get over it. You don't expect to outlive your kids.
'But you have to carry on and make the most of what you have left.
'I honestly don't think a national speed limit will save lives. A 50mph speed limit didn't save Kristy. My feeling is strong on this – a blanket speed limit is not a cure for all ills.'
Kristy was on her way to Steve's sister-in-law's wedding when the friend's car in which she was travelling went out of control on a canal bridge outside Rugby and crashed into the wall of a farm building.
She was killed instantly, as was the young driver, Matthew King, who had only recently passed his driving test.
Kristy's brother Kevin was airlifted to hospital in a critical condition but made a remarkable recovery and was able to start his university course as planned.
Another friend who was a passenger in the vehicle survived the crash but sustained severe injuries which have left him with a speech impediment.
Kristy's parents, who live in Stanley Terrace, Douglas, only found out about the tragedy at the wedding reception.
Steve, whose wife Lynda is a chief executive officer for the St John Ambulance, said: 'When we got to the wedding we couldn't see them and we thought "Oh dear, they are going to be late". After the service we rang their mobiles but there was no answer.
''We were sitting down to eat at the reception when we got the call from the police. We managed to keep it from the newly-weds.'
The latest call to introduce a national speed limit has been made by friends of 19-year-old car crash victim Laura Mae Beattie, of Ramsey, who died in an accident on the Mountain Road last month.
The issue is back on the political agenda, less than a year after the Department of Transport consulted the public and opted not to curb speed.
Steve said: 'Having lost a daughter of my own, I can understand completely how this group of young people are thinking. They want to make sense of the tragedy and doing something positive.
'They are well-intentioned but we should guard against any knee-jerk reaction.
'We are already talking about bringing in speed cameras in the Island but do we want to end up like the UK?
'You get overtaken by drivers who speed past and then slam on their brakes as they approach the cameras.
'It is like some sort of chariot race.'
Steve said the emphasis should be on ensuring novice drivers become safe drivers.
He urged the introduction of an American-style 10pm to 6am curfew on newly qualified motorists so they don't end up giving their friends a lift home.
15 September 2005
======================================
Login
Register
FAQ
Search
Members
