Mum of teen killed on camping trip calls for passenger ban for new drivers

Following the tragic death of her 17 year old son, Crystal Owen is campaigning for new drivers to not be able to carry passengers in their car

A grieving mum is calling for a change in the way new driver's licenses are issued, following the death of her teenage son in a tragic car accident.

Crystal Owen's son Harvey, 17 and three of his friends drowned when the driver of the car Harvey was a passenger in, lost control. The car overturned in a ditch while on a camping trip in Garreg, North Wales last November.

Harvey Owen, 17, and his friends, Jevon Hirst, 16, Wilf Fitchett, 17 and Hugo Morris, 18, all sadly lost their lives.

Crystal, 39, is calling for a tiered system, whereby new drivers couldn't carry a passenger under the age of 25, until they had been driving for a year.

She said this kind of law 'could have saved Harvey and his friends'.

• The best spots where kids eat for FREE this half term
• Exact date millions will be paid benefits early this month
• Struggling families can get £450 towards the rising cost of living

Harvey Owen drowned following a car crash

A new tiered approach

Crystal's campaign calls for the following:

• A minimum learning period of 40 hours to help young drivers gain skills and experience on different roads under different conditions
• No carrying passengers 25 and under for the first year
• Restrictions on driving at night between midnight and 6am
• Mandatory hazard perception training

Currently, new drivers as young as 17 can drive off wherever they like with whoever they like as soon as they've passed their theory and practical driving tests in the UK.

Speaking to the Mirror, Crystal said: 'The graduated licensing system could have saved Harvey and his friends and prevented thousands of families from having to suffer this pain.'

'Road crashes are a leading cause of death for young people'

Speaking in her petition, Crystal explained that the new rules are needed as 'road crashes are a leading cause of death for young people' with almost 1,500 young drivers killed or seriously hurt in the UK every year.

While young drivers are four times as likely to crash with passengers in the car.

The tiered system would follow countries such as Canada which has a scheme with a minimum learning period and restrictions on night driving for new drivers.

Since introducing this scheme, there was a 42% drop in crashes involving drivers aged 20–24.

Crystal's petition also mentions New Zealand where there is a scheme that restricts passengers for the first six months of driving – this saw a 23% drop in crash injuries for 15 to 19-year-olds and 12% for 20 to 24-year-olds since it was brought in.

'The boys could be alive if the driver was more experienced'

Crystal had thought that a parent would be driving the group but it was one of Harvey's college friends that she had not met before who was driving, she said.

The group had stayed at a friend's grandparent's house the night before setting off the next day. But just an hour after leaving, the boys' Ford Fiesta crashed, swerving into a ditch where they were found drowned.

Crystal said that the boys could still be alive if the driver was more experienced.

Authorities have not named who was driving and an inquest into their deaths has not yet been held.

'I’ve cried so many tears my eyes are raw'

Crystal said: 'I’ve cried so many tears my eyes are raw. As a family we will struggle to ever come to terms with this loss, a life so full of promise cut short.

'I no longer feel I will ever find any contentment or joy in life as there is a huge void that cannot ever be filled.'

The mum explained that she had 'always been a careful parent', and taught her children not to take part in 'risky behaviours'.

You can sign Crystal's petition here.

Related stories

I tried Martin Lewis' credit card tip and paid off £1,000 of debt

CHAT: With other parents about money

DWP sparks confusion over the upcoming £299 payment dates