The family of a toddler killed by a runaway car have expressed their distress over a “loophole” in the law that prevents certain driving offenses from being applied on private land. Pearl Black tragically died in 2017 after the driver of a Range Rover, Andrew Williams, failed to engage the handbrake properly, causing the vehicle to roll downhill and knock a wall onto the child. No criminal proceedings were brought against Mr. Williams, leaving the family feeling let down by the justice system.
Pearl’s family, from Merthyr Tydfil, has teamed up with their local MP, Gerald Jones, to lobby for a new law that would extend careless and dangerous driving offenses to cover private land next to roads. While the UK Government has extended its condolences to the family, it insists that existing legislation is always being reviewed.
Pearl’s parents, Paul and Gemma Black, have also spoken of their distress at losing their daughter, who was just 22 months old at the time. They believe current road traffic laws are not fit for purpose and have called for a complete overhaul. “Things you used to look forward to, happy times, are now tinged with sadness,” said Gemma Black. Pearl’s father added that current laws were “in need of dragging completely up to date.”
The family’s MP has proposed an amendment to the Criminal Justice Bill currently passing through parliament. The legislation would extend the Road Traffic Act 1988 to include a range of driving offenses on private land adjacent to roads. The proposed amendment has cross-party support, although a meeting with ministers has yet to be arranged. With their efforts, Pearl’s family hopes to ensure no one else has to go through the same tragedy they have experienced
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