November 3rd 2024.
Scott Webb's petition has been making waves and has already received over 19,000 signatures. This passionate effort is driven by a grieving father, Scott, who recently appeared on the popular show Question Time to bring attention to an issue close to his heart - lifelong bans for drink drivers who cause fatal crashes. Scott's son, Aidan, tragically lost his life in December 2022 when Tyler Wilkins, who was one and a half times over the legal alcohol limit, crashed his car. Wilkins was ultimately sentenced to three and a half years in prison and a seven-year driving ban. However, for Scott, this punishment was not enough.
With a desire to see stricter consequences for drink drivers who cause fatalities, Scott started a petition. In just a matter of weeks, it has gained an incredible 19,000 signatures. Scott explains, "Our main aim is to introduce a law that means drivers who kill while over the limit are banned for life." He strongly believes that the current laws do not do enough to prevent people from driving under the influence and that Wilkins' sentence of only a few years is not justifiable for taking a life.
During his appearance on Question Time, Scott shared his heartbreaking story with host Fiona Bruce. He revealed that his son, who was only 19 years old, was a passenger in Wilkins' car on the way back from watching an England football match when the fatal crash occurred. The court later found that in addition to being over the limit, Wilkins' car also had several defects, including a bald tire and faulty brakes. He pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving, and the court heard that Aidan died at the scene while three other passengers, all in their late teens, were taken to the hospital with minor injuries.
Reflecting on the tragedy, Scott expressed his deep regret, saying, "I just wish I had never let him out that night. My last words to him were, 'have a good night, don't let anyone drink or drive.' If I could turn back time and take his place, I would do it in a heartbeat." The loss of his son has changed Scott and his family's lives forever. He shares, "We will never be the same again. We will never be the same people. I lost part of my life that day that will never come back."
But even in the midst of such a devastating loss, Scott is determined to bring something good out of it. He explains, "The main thing being, we want to stop other families from going through what we have gone through. This has had such a massive impact on us. It has taken us this long to get back to a place where we can do something like this." He is joined in his efforts by his wife Angela and his son Lewis. Together, they hope to make a change and prevent other families from experiencing the same tragedy they did.
Scott's question on Question Time did not receive a satisfactory answer, and he was later told that his thoughts would be passed on to the Ministry of Justice. However, he has not heard anything back from them since. He also had a meeting with his local MP, but they are still awaiting a response. The Ministry of Justice has stated that "independent judges decide sentences, including whether to impose lifetime driving bans," but they are committed to ensuring that the severity of the crime is reflected in the punishment.
To add your support to Scott's petition, you can visit change.org/LifetimeDrivingBans. This issue hits close to home for many, as we have seen numerous stories of lives lost due to drink driving. It's a heartbreaking reality that Scott and his family know all too well. He urges everyone to think about their loved ones before deciding to drink and drive, as the consequences can be devastating. In his words, "That is what families have to go through, and what we saw in the hospital and the chapel of rest will haunt me forever."
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