Colchester: MP's pledge to bereaved parents (From Essex County Standard)

Colchester: MP's pledge to bereaved parents

9:00am Friday 3rd July 2009

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Road safety minister Paul Clark has praised a Colchester couple for their drive to reduce the legal limit for drink driving.

And he said Steve and Michelle Bell's petition would play a part of the Road Safety Compliance consultation which is currently underway.

The consultation was launched last November looking at five key areas including drink driving and speeding.

The consultation was completed in March.

Mr Clark said: "We are currently evaluating the responses to that.

"Being able to speak to a mum and dad who have gone through that appalling time, and are still going through it, is important.

"Nothing will bring back Jordan but this brings to me the importance of what we are doing.

"Mr and Mrs Bell have the support of 3,500 people and they want to see steps taken which are proper and appropriate.

"My position is to see what further steps we have to take to get the effect we want."

Mr Clark added: "We have taken measures for increased safety on the roads to levels which are recognised worldwide.

"However, there are issues about drink driving and we need to work on that."

Mr Clark paid tribute to Mr and Mrs Bell.

He said: "I respect the work they have done and the support of your paper in raising the profile of this issue to help us in our process of making decisions.

"We have to assess whether lowering the limit is going to achieve what we want to in lowering deaths from drink driving.

"If I genuinely thinkg that lowering the level to 50 mcgs would achieve what we want to, I will take that decision."

The results of the consultation are due to be announced later this year.

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