A petition calling for road safety measures in Dumpton Park Drive has been handed in to Kent County Council today (May 23).
The petition was launched by Ramsgate mum Keena Entwistle last November following the death of her teenage son Ethan in a crash on the road on October 1st 2023.
Ethan was just two days away from his 19th birthday when the car he was a passenger in with a friend and two associates crashed into a tree on Dumpton Park Drive.
Sadly, despite the efforts of his friend Ben Brazil, who was also a passenger in the car, to carry out CPR until medics arrived, Ethan did not survive.
Keena launched the petition, which has so far gained just shy of 2,000 signatures and 44 pages of comments detailing why measures are needed, in the hope that it will prevent the loss of someone else’s loved one.
Keena, who is also mum to 15-year-old Thomas, said: “At present Kent County Council has put some bollards on the road around the bend and by the tree. There is a ‘bend in the road’ sign and ‘slow’ has been put on the road.
“Personally, I would like to have flashing signs with the speed limit – working in a school I know most people are visual learners so if it is flashing they will take notice.
“Broadstairs town council is interested in the 20’s Plenty scheme so they are involved and Deer Park (care centre), Holy Trinity school and Bradstow School want measures on the road as well.”
The teaching assistant is also in favour of graduated licences which aim to boost road safety by making the process of obtaining a full driving licence more rigorous. Brake road safety charity is one of the organisations pushing for the introduction of the scheme in the UK for new drivers aged 17 to 24.
Brake says young and novice drivers aged 17-24 make up 7% of licence holders but are involved in a quarter of the injury collisions and 24% of fatal collisions on Great Britain’s roads, adding that graduated licences have “proven to be effective at reducing young driver crashes where implemented around the world.”
Keena said: “I have joined a group on facebook for parents who have lost children and young people (on the road) and I am completely in favour of the graduated licence. If that was in place the accident (where Ethan lost his life) may not have happened.”
Ethan’s photo was among those of other young people who have lost their lives on the road, displayed on a placard last weekend and installed at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire – aiming to show road fatalities are people and not just statistics.
Ethan was a Broadstairs College student who studied accountancy and had just started a mechanics course. Keena said her son was “a larger than life character” who loved Anime, computers and gaming and being with his friends. His loss has “left a giant hole in so many people’s lives,” says Keena.
On the petition page she adds: “This is not just about Ethan anymore; it’s about every child, every family who could be next. I do not want anyone else to ever experience this heartbreak that has now befallen my family. If Ethan’s death can help prevent anyone else having to suffer, then we as a family will know he has left a lasting legacy.”
Keena says the aim of the petition is to make KCC aware there is a continued need for further road safety measures.
She said although she understands action may not be taken until after an inquest into Ethan’s death – a date is yet to be set for this – she wants the county authority to know: “We have not given up, we are still here and we will keep going.”
Keena is now a member of the Dumpton Park Drive road safety group which has been campaigning for measures since the death of a woman cyclist in a collision at the junction with Montefiore Avenue in 2022.
Those involved in the Make Our Road Safe! Dumpton Park Drive Safer Roads Action Group say there have been at least seven collisions during 2021/22 as well as several near misses.
Suggestions for measures have included extending the yellow lines, installing traffic islands, introducing a 20mph zone or even creating a mini-roundabout.
County Councillor Karen Constantine, who delivered Keena’s petition to County Hall, said: “There is no doubt in my mind that Dumpton Park Drive is dangerous and urgently needs traffic calming measures.
“Keena is quite right and very brave to fight for road improvements after the very sad loss of her son Ethan.
“There have been other accidents and near misses on this stretch of road. Locals know that inconsiderate drivers do speed on that section. The truth is we have several hotspots across Ramsgate and yet we seem to be last in line when it comes to funding road traffic management improvements.
“It is ironic that money from Central Government can be spent elsewhere in my division – Margate Road – but not where it is needed.
“Is KCC listening? To date I don’t think so. So today at Keena’s request I handed over her petition by prior agreement with KCCs chairman Cllr Bryan Sweetland.
“I was also able to say a few words about how necessary road safety measures in this area are. I am now awaiting a written response.”
‘Deepest condolences’
A Kent County Council (KCC) spokesperson said: “Any death on Kent’s roads is tragic, and we send our deepest condolences to Ethan’s family.
“As with all fatal and serious crashes, Kent Police undertake a robust investigation to ascertain any causation factors in such incidents. This investigation is still ongoing.
“The findings are subsequently made known to Kent County Council, which upon advice from the police and the coroner where necessary, will subsequently undertake any work to help prevent a similar type of incident from occurring again.
“One death on our roads is too many and we will work with Kent Police and other partners to ensure any issues raised are resolved.”
Keena is urging people to continue signing the online petition which will be presented once more after Ethan’s inquest has been held.
