EFFORTS by MP Matt Western to improve road safety have been recognised by a national charity.
The Warwick and Leamington MP is trying to introduce a parliamentary bill to limit the driving hours worked by bus drivers.
It follows the death of seven-year-old Rowan Fitzgerald and 76-year-old pedestrian Dora Hancox after a Stagecoach bus ploughed into Sainsburys supermarket in Coventry city centre in October 2015.
It was driven by Kailash Chander who was 77 at the time, had been driving the bus dangerously and been working around 75 hours a week at the time. The former Leamington mayor was found medically unfit to stand trial.
Following the deaths, Mr Western has been working to see a change in the law and introduced a Bill in parliament.
And his efforts have been recognised by road safety charity Brake and insurance company Direct Line, which named him Road Safety Parliamentarian of the Month for February.
Mr Western said: “I am delighted to accept this award, particularly from Brake who have been so supportive of my Bill to limit local bus drivers’ hours. I’ve been working closely with the family of seven-year-old Rowan Fitzgerald who died in a bus crash caused by driver fatigue after an elderly driver had worked more than 70 hour weeks.
“This is very much the start of a campaign to change the law to keep bus drivers and members of the public safer.”
A spokesman for Brake said the charity will continue to support the MP’s campaign.
He said: “It is absolutely vital our road safety laws ensure that tragedies like the one that claimed the life of Rowan Fitzgerald and Dora Hancox cannot happen again and we urge government to support Matt’s bill.
“Brake has long been concerned about the dangers posed by driver fatigue, particularly for at-work drivers. A full review of domestic rules regarding drivers’ hours is long overdue and we absolutely commend and support Matt’s important work on this issue.”
