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Today marks a year since Joanna Dentskevich’s son, Freddie, was knocked off his bicycle at a junction in St. Martin by a driver who did not immediately stop.
Since the police concluded that there was not enough evidence to prosecute the driver, Mrs Dentskevich has campaigned for a ‘Freddie’s Law’ in Jersey, which would introduce a hierarchy of responsibility on the road, based on each user’s vulnerability.
Following a States Assembly debate, the Government has promised to carry out a review of road safety, including looking at existing legislation and the Highway Code to identify the benefits of introducing a Freddie’s Law.
This review has been welcomed by Mrs Dentskevich, who continues to campaign for safer roads and today shares Five Things that she would love to do or see happen in Jersey...
Jersey has such a wonderful coast, and I am ashamed to admit I have explored very little of it apart from the areas where I have lived.
My goal for the coming year, either by foot, paddleboarding, swimming or by RIB, and not all in one go, is to have explored the complete shoreline.
I love living by the sea and also being on the sea in a boat or on my paddleboard, but I struggle with swimming in the sea.
I really want to become one of the regular swimmers – my goal for this year, once the sea temperature is slightly more appealing, that is!
I’d like to see our supermarkets set up and incentivise customers to use plastic ‘pre-cycle’ and ‘take-back’ schemes and to use their own containers where possible.
These are all options are being trialled by the big supermarkets in the UK.
Roadside honesty stalls are wonderful and Jersey must be one of the few places where it’s safe enough to still have them.
However, with all the locally grown produce, skills and talent there is in Jersey, to see somewhere like Royal Square used for regular farmers’ markets and pop-up stalls would be a wonderful way to showcase all that is good about Jersey and at the same time reduce fuel consumption and road traffic.
Since Freddie’s accident a year ago today, I have become acutely aware of how intimidating our roads can be.
By us all taking more responsibility on the roads for our own safety and the danger we potentially pose to others, a big difference can be made. Can I be seen? Am I walking, cycling, driving responsibly? Am I too close? Am I taking up too much of the road? If I’m a couple of minutes late does it matter? Is my phone out of temptation’s reach?
A few small questions would be a big step forward in road safety.
