Prevention of Future Deaths reports · 2025
Regulation 28 report to prevent future deaths, reference 2025-0143, written 14 Mar 2025. A coroner writes one of these when an inquest reveals a risk that could cause further deaths unless something changes.
| Date of report | 14 Mar 2025 |
|---|---|
| Reference | 2025-0143 |
| Deceased | William Radford |
| Coroner | Penelope Schofield |
| Coroner area | West Sussex, Brighton and Hove |
| Category | Road (Highways Safety) related deaths · Child Death (from 2015) |
| Source | judiciary.uk record · original PDF |
| Responses published | 1 |
Text extracted from the PDF text layer. Reproduced verbatim, including the scan's own layout.
Regulation 28: REPORT TO PREVENT FUTURE DEATHS NOTE: This form is to be used after an inquest. REGULATION 28 REPORT TO PREVENT DEATHS THIS REPORT IS BEING SENT TO: Secretary of State Department of Transport. Great Minster House, Horseferry Road, London SW1P 4DR. 1 CORONER I am Penelope SCHOFIELD, Senior Coroner for the coroner area of West Sussex, Brighton and Hove 2 CORONER’S LEGAL POWERS I make this report under paragraph 7, Schedule 5, of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009 and regulations 28 and 29 of the Coroners (Investigations) Regulations 2013. 3 INVESTIGATION and INQUEST On 17 June 2024 I commenced an investigation into the death of William Owen RADFORD aged 17. The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 12 March 2025. The conclusion of the inquest was a short form conclusion namely Road Traffic Collision 4 CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE DEATH On 10th June 2024 Will was driving his Nissan motor vehicle south along the A281 Brighton Road, in West Sussex. He had only recently passed his driving test. He was at the time carrying a young passenger. As he approached a right hand bend Will lost control of his vehicle before it rotated, traversing across the carriageway. The vehicle briefly regained traction before being struck on its offside by an oncoming vehicle travelling in the opposite direction. Sadly, as a result of the impact of the collision Will was ejected from the vehicle and he suffered fatal injuries. Although he was airlifted to St Georges Hospital in London he sadly died on 13th June 2024. 5 CORONER’S CONCERNS During the course of the investigation my inquiries revealed matters giving rise to concern. In my opinion there is a risk that future deaths could occur unless action is taken. In the circumstances it is my statutory duty to report to you. The MATTERS OF CONCERN are as follows: (brief summary of matters of concern) This Inquest concerned the death of a young man (aged 17) who had only just passed his driving test a few weeks before his death. At the time of his death he was driving his car accompanied by a young friend, also aged 17. I heard evidence that where an inexperienced driver has a distraction of another young person in the car this can increase their risk of having an accident. There is currently ongoing public concern that inexperienced drivers are able to carry young passengers within the first six months of having passed their test. Regulation 28 – After Inquest Template Updated 15/10//2024 TG 6 ACTION SHOULD BE TAKEN In my opinion action should be taken to prevent future deaths and I believe you (and/or your organisation) have the power to take such action. 7 YOUR RESPONSE You are under a duty to respond to this report within 56 days of the date of this report, namely by May 08, 2025. I, the coroner, may extend the period. Your response must contain details of action taken or proposed to be taken, setting out the timetable for action. Otherwise you must explain why no action is proposed. COPIES and PUBLICATION 8 I have sent a copy of my report to the Chief Coroner and to the following Interested Persons The family of William Radford I have also sent it to , Serious Collision Investigation Unit, Sussex Police who may find it useful or of interest. I am also under a duty to send a copy of your response to the Chief Coroner and all interested persons who in my opinion should receive it. I may also send a copy of your response to any person who I believe may find it useful or of interest. The Chief Coroner may publish either or both in a complete or redacted or summary form. She may send a copy of this report to any person who he believes may find it useful or of interest. You may make representations to me, the coroner, at the time of your response about the release or the publication of your response by the Chief Coroner. 9 Dated: 14/03/2025 Penelope SCHOFIELD Senior Coroner for West Sussex, Brighton and Hove Regulation 28 – After Inquest Template Updated 15/10//2024 TG
1 response published against this report on judiciary.uk. A response is a body's written reply to the coroner's concerns; publication is at the discretion of the Chief Coroner's office, so an absent response does not mean nobody replied.
Penelope Schofield Senior Coroner for West Sussex, Brighton and Hove Coroners Office Lewes Road Brighton BN2 3QB From the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State Great Minster House 33 Horseferry Road London SW1P 4DR Tel: E-Mail: Web site: www.gov.uk/dft Our Ref: 8 May 2025 Dear Penelope Schofield, RESPONSE TO REGULATION 28 REPORT TO PREVENT FUTURE DEATHS Thank you for your letter of 17 March to the Secretary of State, enclosing your Regulation 28 Report to Prevent Future Deaths dated 14 March made under the Coroners and Justice Act 2009 and the Coroners (Investigations) Regulations 2013, following the inquest you conducted into the death of William Radford. I am responding as Minister for the Future of Roads. I am deeply saddened by the circumstances of William Radford’s death, and I would like to extend my sincere condolences to his family. I would like to make clear that improving road safety is one of my Department’s highest priorities. Too many people are killed and seriously injured in road traffic collisions, and this Government will work hard to prevent these tragedies for all road users. Whilst UK roads are among the safest in the world, there is no room for complacency, and I have carefully considered your report and its recommendations. The latest statistics do show that the number of fatalities for car drivers aged 17-24 years-old on Britain’s roads is falling – a decrease of 80% between 1990 and 2023. However, this Government acknowledges that there is still work to be done. In terms of population and the number of miles driven, 17– 24-year-olds, particularly young men, remain one of the highest fatality risk groups both as car drivers and passengers. In Britain, there is a form of restricting novice drivers though the Road Traffic (New Drivers) Act 1995. On acquiring their first full licence, a new driver is on ‘probation’ for two years. During this time, they are subject to a limit of six penalty points received for any driving offences (including any received when in the learning stage). If six or more points are received, then a driver loses their full licence and must apply again for a provisional licence, and then re- take both their theory and practical test. Whilst we are not considering Graduated Driving Licences, we absolutely recognise that young people are disproportionately victims of tragic incidents on our roads, and this is something we are determined to tackle, including through our THINK! campaign. THINK! is the Government’s flagship road safety campaign. It aims to reduce the number of people killed and seriously injured on the roads in England and Wales by changing attitudes and behaviours among those at most risk, with the primary audience being young men aged 17-24. THINK! targets issues that cause the highest number of deaths and serious injuries amongst young people, such as drink driving and speeding, as well as communicating other key policy interventions. The campaign is rooted in audience insight and delivers highly targeted and relevant messaging to drive behaviour change. I want to reiterate that this Government treats road safety seriously, and we are committed to reducing the numbers of those killed and injured on our roads. To that end, my Department is developing the first road safety strategy in over a decade and will set out more details in due course. Best wishes, MINISTER FOR THE FUTURE OF ROADS
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