Prevention of Future Deaths reports · 2026
Regulation 28 report to prevent future deaths, reference 2026-0146, written 12 Mar 2026. A coroner writes one of these when an inquest reveals a risk that could cause further deaths unless something changes.
| Date of report | 12 Mar 2026 |
|---|---|
| Reference | 2026-0146 |
| Deceased | Paul Green |
| Coroner | Gareth Jones |
| Coroner area | West Sussex, Brighton and Hove |
| Category | 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: 1 Secretary of State for Transport, Heidi Alexander 1 CORONER I am Gareth JONES, Assistant 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 29 November 2024 I commenced an investigation into the death of Paul Walker GREEN aged 16. The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 12 March 2026. The conclusion of the inquest was that: Paul Walker Green was a rear side passenger in a car. The driver of the car failed to appropriately negotiate a right hand bend, by understeering, leading to the car colliding with a tree and rolling onto its’ roof. The collision with the tree caused Paul Green to suffer fatal head injuries. The driver had recently passed her test and her inexperience likely contributed to the actions she took. Paul green was not wearing a seatbelt which may also have contributed to his death. Paul Walker Green died on the 27th of November 2024 at Emsworth Common in Emsworth of head injuries caused in the collision. 4 CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE DEATH Paul Walker Green was a rear side passenger in a car. The driver of the car failed to appropriately negotiate a right hand bend, by understeering, leading to the car colliding with a tree and rolling onto its’ roof. The collision with the tree caused Paul Green to suffer fatal head injuries. The driver had recently passed her test and her inexperience likely contributed to the actions she took. Paul green was not wearing a seatbelt which may also have contributed to his death. Paul Walker Green died on the 27th of November 2024 at Emsworth Common in Emsworth of head injuries caused in the collision. 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) The driver of the vehicle which crashed was 17 years of age. The three passengers in the car including Paul Green who died were also under 18. There were no adults in the car. I heard evidence from Forensic Collision Investigator that the collision was likely a result of understeering while negotiating a bend which was a result of the driver's inexperience. She had only passed her test a few weeks prior to the collision. I also heard evidence that the presence of other teenagers in the car (none of whom it appeared had driving experience) is a factor in a number of collisions. I am concerned that when 17 year olds pass a driving test, they can drive on any road in the UK including motorways without any adult supervision. I believe this current state of affairs is likely to lead to further fatal collisions if it remains unaddressed. Regulation 28 – After Inquest Template Updated 15/07/2025 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 07, 2026. 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 Admiral Insurance Claims Department I have also sent it to – 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. They may send a copy of this report to any person who they believe 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: 12/03/2026 Gareth JONES Assistant Coroner for West Sussex, Brighton and Hove Regulation 28 – After Inquest Template Updated 15/07/2025 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.
From the Parliamentary
Under Secretary of State
Great Minster House
33 Horseferry Road
London
SW1P 4DR
Gareth Jones
Assistant Coroner
West Sussex, Brighton, and Hove
Dear Gareth,
5 May 2026
RESPONSE TO REGULATION 28 REPORT TO PREVENT FUTURE
DEATHS
Thank you for your letter of 12 March enclosing your Regulation 28 Report to
Prevent Future Deaths dated 12 March 2026 made under the Coroners and
Justice Act 2009 and the Coroners (Investigations) Regulations 2013,
following the inquest you conducted into the death of Paul Walker Green.
I am deeply saddened by the circumstances of Paul Green’s death and I
would like to extend my sincere condolences to his family and friends.
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 car fatalities involving 17 to
24-year-olds on Britain’s roads is falling – from 448 in 1990 to 73 in 2024.
This is an 84% total decrease. However, there is no room for complacency. 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.
That is one reason why, on 7 January 2026 my Department published our
new Road Safety Strategy, setting out our vision for a safer future on our
roads for all. The Strategy sets an ambitious target to reduce the number of
people killed or seriously injured on British roads by 65% by 2035. This target
will focus the efforts of road safety partners across Britain, with measures to
improve road design, protect vulnerable road users, and review motoring
offences. All of this will be supported and monitored by a new Road Safety
Board which I will chair.
Whilst we are not considering further restrictions on newly qualified drivers,
such as carrying passengers, we are consulting on a Minimum Learning
Period before learner drivers can take their practical driving test. This would
allow learners more time to gain essential experience, for example in different
weather conditions, before driving independently and reduce the risk to
themselves and other drivers. We believe this strikes an appropriate balance
between addressing specific risks pertaining to younger drivers, whilst
allowing them to exercise new freedoms that passing your driving test can
bring.
We are also consulting on a lower drink drive limit for newly qualified drivers
in England and Wales with the intention of reducing collisions amongst this
group.
The consultation on introducing a Minimum Learning Period for learner
drivers closes on 11 May and can be found at:
www.gov.uk/government/consultations/introducing-a-minimum-learning-
period-for-learner-drivers/introducing-a-minimum-learning-period-for-learner-
drivers-category-b-driving-licence.
I am also aware that seat belts were a factor in the death of Paul Green. We
recognise the devastating consequences of failing to wear a seat belt. That is
why, through the consultation on proposed changes to penalties for motoring
offences, we are seeking views on whether drivers who fail to wear a seat
belt, or who fail to ensure that a child under 14 is wearing an appropriate
restraint, should receive 3 penalty points.
The consultation on motoring offences closes on 11 May and can be found at:
www.gov.uk/government/consultations/proposed-changes-to-penalties-for-
motoring-offences. Once these and other road safety consultations have
concluded, we will publish our responses in due course.
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.
Best wishes,
MINISTER FOR LOCAL TRANSPORT
See every Prevention of Future Deaths report matching Child Death (from 2015), and how often a new one appears.
What would an alert for this have sent me? Search the full text
Free to try — the preview shows the real matches and how many arrived in the last 12 months. Your first email alert is free.
These reports are published by the Chief Coroner's office at judiciary.uk and are © Crown copyright. The text here is reproduced from the published PDF so it can be searched. If something on this page is wrong, or you are a person named in it and want it reviewed, email drcjar@gmail.com and we will act promptly.