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Leicestershire mother wins speed camera campaign

Becki Holwell was killed when her boyfriend lost control of the car on the A6 in Leicestershire
A Leicestershire mother has won her campaign to have an extra speed camera installed near the collision blackspot where her daughter was killed.
Three years ago, Julie Holwell, 45, from Mountsorrel, lost her 20-year-old daughter in a road crash on the A6.
Becki Holwell was a passenger in the car being driven by her boyfriend, who lost control on the road towards the One Ash roundabout near Loughborough.
The local Road Safety Partnership said it would be installing the camera.

Ben Crossley was jailed for two years after he admitted causing the death of Miss Holwell by careless driving, at Leicester Crown Court.

Campaign fails
After her daughter's death, Mrs Holwell campaigned for increased road safety on the A6 between Loughborough and Quorn.
She said she had delivered a 1,900-name petition, in support of having cameras, to Leicestershire County Council.

Mrs Holwell told them: "This is going to happen again, something needs to be done on this road.
Julie Holwell from Mountsorrel Julie Holwell said her life 'ended' the night her daughter died
"Only a speed camera will stop them."

Mrs Holwell's campaign to have a fixed speed camera was initially rejected in 2010. She said she was told by the county council that speeding on the road was not serious enough to justify it.

Ian Drummond, the council's assistant director and chairman of the Leicestershire and Rutland Road Safety Partnership, said: "The installation is guided by strict government criteria.
"Earlier accident studies on this stretch of the A6 resulted in new safety measures, including a 50mph speed limit."
The county council said it had relined the road and laid anti-skid surfacing shortly before the 20-year-old was killed in 2008.

'Very dangerous'
Mrs Holwell said the road was still "very dangerous" and further deaths and crashes had happened after the safety measures were carried out.
"Some people approaching the roundabout are still speeding," she said.
"They slam on the breaks as they get there - that's not a safe way to drive."

Mr Drummond said: "People are still driving too fast, we've decided to install a fixed speed camera as part of this year's casualty reduction programme."

Mrs Holwell welcomed the decision and said she did not want another family to have their "heart broken".
"The thought of it being three years ago since I last spoke to or saw Becki is just heartbreaking," she said.
"The night that Becki was killed, my life ended as well."

"They slam on the breaks [sic] as they get there - that's not a safe way to drive."

I have to wonder to what extent was this a one woman campaign?

Did she perhaps have a visit from the likes of brake. First offering condolencies, then "support". And so forth....

Since her death Becki's family have been raising cash for the road safety charity BRAKE. She had been planning her 21st birthday party at the time of her death and her family decided to hold it as a fund-raiser in her memory. More than £700 was collected at December's event.

"Only a speed camera will stop them."

Road studies [undertaken in March 2010] have shown that 85% of cars travel at 51mph or 52mph on the 50mph limit road. For speed cameras, 85% cars must travel at 55mph to qualify.

Mrs Holwell's campaign to have a fixed speed camera was initially rejected in 2010. She said she was told by the county council that speeding on the road was not serious enough to justify it.

On Thursday, the day before the third anniversary of Becki's death, Julie was told a speed camera will be installed at the spot.

Julie said: "It's a bit spooky that after submitting the petition almost two years ago, I should find out about the camera the day before her anniversary."

Ian Drummond, the council's assistant director and chairman of the Leicestershire and Rutland Road Safety Partnership, said: "The installation is guided by strict government criteria.