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Speed warning plan for site of teen's fatal crash

Charlie Rose
BBC News, South East
Keena Entwistle Wearing dark framed glasses, a white shirt, dark tie, and with shoulder length dark brown hair, Ethan Entwistle looks to the camera with an open-mouthed smile. Behind him are the bannisters of a flight of stairs.Keena Entwistle
Ethan Entwistle, 18, died in a crash in Dumpton Park Drive, Broadstairs

Speed warning signs could be installed at an "accident hotspot" in Kent where a teenager was killed in a crash.

Ethan Entwistle, 18, died when the car in which he was a passenger crashed into a tree in Dumpton Park Drive, Broadstairs, on 1 October 2023.

Kent County Council (KCC) said it was working with local councils "to investigate the feasibility of installing electronic signs which warn drivers of their speed".

Ethan's mother, Keena Entwistle, who has campaigned to introduce flashing speed signs on the road, said: "I know it won't bring Ethan back but it could stop another accident, where there could be a fatality."

Two people have been killed in crashes on the 30mph road in recent years, including Ethan, who died two days before his 19th birthday.

Residents say the road is an "accident hotspot".

Ms Entwistle now volunteers for a new community speed watch group to identify speeding drivers on Dumpton Park Drive using flashing signs.

"If we have anyone that is going over (the speed limit) then we upload all the information to the police", she said.

Limits for new drivers

Standing on Dumpton Park Drive on a grey day in front of the tree which was hit by the car carrying her son, Keena Entwistle, with dark shoulder-length hair, looks at the camera, wearing glasses with a dark red frame and a padded zipped jacket.
Keena Entwistle has called for a change in the law for inexperienced drivers

Last week bereaved families from across the UK took a petition containing more than 100,000 signatures to Downing Street, advocating for graduated driving licenses.

Road safety campaigners would like to see newly-qualified drivers banned from carrying passengers or making journeys at night.

Similar schemes are operating in other countries such as Australia and Germany.

Ms Entwistle said: "All we're asking for is 6 months that those young drivers gain the road experience, because at present you can pass your test this morning and you can go on any road, go on the motorway, drive up to Scotland, do anything."

The Department for Transport said it does not have any plans to change the system.

A spokesperson said: "Every death on our roads is a tragedy and our thoughts remain with the families of everyone who has lost a loved one in this way.

"Whilst we are not considering Graduated Driving Licences, we absolutely recognise that young people are disproportionately victims of tragic incidents on our roads.

"We are developing a new Road Safety Strategy, the first in over a decade, to ensure the UK's roads remain among the safest in the world."

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