Wimbledon Land Rover school crash sparks debate over whether ‘unstoppable’ 4x4s should be driven in cities as ex-transport minister Norman Baker says they should be made socially unacceptable’
- A girl, eight, was killed after a Land Rover ploughed into an end of term picnic
Critics have questioned the safety of using 4x4s in urban areas following yesterday’s deadly crash in Wimbledon.
An eight-year-old girl was killed while a second remains critical in hospital alongside a woman in her 40s after a £80,000 Land Rover ploughed into an end of term picnic at the Study Preparatory School.
The horrific crash left 16 others injured, including a baby, while police have bailed the driver, a 46-year-old local woman, after arresting her on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving. It is believed she suffered a ‘medical incident’.
Land Rover Defenders can weigh nearly 6,000lbs and have a powerful 200HP twin turbocharged diesel engine.
The British Medical Journal previously published an American study showing that 4x4s are more dangerous to pedestrians.
A major incident was declared following the horror collision in Wimbledon on Thursday morning. The driver has been bailed
Former Lib Dem transport minister Norman Baker (pictured), has long campaigned against 4x4s on environmental grounds and believes they should face higher taxes to drive them off the road.
The Land Rover that crashed into the school party is towed away by police for testing last night
The Wimbledon community has been left heartbroken after the tragic crash
Women place flowers at the scene of the tragedy in Wimbledon on Friday morning
Today, a local mother, whose 18-year-old son goes to another school nearby, said she knows people who are friends with the parents of the injured, adding: ‘I have been told that a number of children injured have broken bones. One of the children has a broken pelvis apparently.
‘It’s such an awful thing to happen. Why people have to have such big powerful cars in this area, where the roads are quite narrow is beyond me.’
Former Lib Dem transport minister Norman Baker, has long campaigned against 4x4s on environmental grounds and believes they should face higher taxes to drive them off the road.
A stuffed toy dog is among the tributes laid outside the Study Preparatory school on Friday morning
Flowers and toys placed outside the Study Preparatory School in Wimbledon, south-west London
Incoming headteacher at the school Sharon Maher walks away from the crash scene on Thursday evening, head in her hands
Mourners continue to leave flowers at the school today
Ian Hewitt Chairman of the All England Lawn Tennis Club lays a floral tribute at the scene of Friday morning
He told MailOnline: ‘While they are useful for farmers, they are completely inappropriate for urban locations, and clearly more dangerous and have a bigger impact if a collision occurs.
‘The taxation system should be changed to reflect that they are antisocial vehicles. We need to increase tax on them and make it social unacceptable to drive them in cities.’
John Scruby, a road safety campaigner and former policeman, suggested drivers of 4x4s could face extra tests before being allowed on the roads.
He told MailOnline: ‘People in outlying areas need these vehicles, but I’m not sure that parents on the school run do.
‘Drivers need to be aware that they’re in a four-ton killing machine and they need to be used accordingly.
‘As police officers we needed to take a separate course to drive a heavy vehicle. That’s something we could look at with 4×4 drivers more generally.’
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