A senior Bedford Borough councillor whose friend was killed on a pedestrian crossing by a driver who failed to de-ice his windscreen has made a plea to road users.
During last night’s Executive Meeting (Wednesday, 8 January) cllr Phillippa Martin-Moran-Bryant (Conservative, Great Barford) told members that in 2017 a friend, Jasjot Singhoa, was on a pedestrian crossing in London when she was hit by a motorist who “failed to clear his windscreen properly, killing her and no doubt ruining his own life in the process”.
“So the reason I make this plea is very personal. Motorists, please give yourself that extra time to prepare your car this winter,” she added.
“Given the weather that we are having at the moment, cars have got frozen windows, they’ve got misted windows. And if they’re not cleared properly you can’t see.
“It’s really important to make sure that your car is ready for the road so that [the driver] can see clearly to prevent accidents.”
The councillor also made a plea to cyclists to ensure they use lights when riding.
“[It does] seem to particularly be younger cyclists who jeopardize their safety by not having lights in their bikes,” she said. “And they wear black clothing, and as a motorist, you can hardly see them – it’s really scary.
“Lights are not expensive, they are required and they could save your life or save you from serious life-changing harm,” she said. “And if you’ve got a friend or a family member who doesn’t have lights, maybe just think about buying them.
“My plea to everyone is just be really mindful of your own safety and the safety of others.”
