30.09.2014
Jordan Bone, from King's Lynn in Norfolk, has won the Points of Light Prime Minister award, which recognises the positive impact made by volunteers whose work inspires others and makes a difference in their community.
Ms Bone was paralysed from the chest down at the age of 15 after an accident in May 2005, when the car in which she was a passenger skidded on a wet road and landed on its roof.
While the driver and other passengers escaped unharmed, she suffered a spinal cord injury that left her unable to use any of her four limbs.
She has drawn on her own experience and become a busy campaigner for road safety through the Fixers charity, holding regular workshops and seminars in schools and at the Streetlife Driving School. Its chief aim is to educate young motorists about the dangers of letting youthful exuberance get the better of them when they are behind the wheel.
She has also been a member of a road safety forum and has tirelessly lobbied MPs and ministers about the issue.
Praising her work, Prime Minister David Cameron said: "Jordan is a truly courageous young woman."
Expressing her delight at the award, Ms Bone said: "I feel that my Fixers charity project is important to make young people aware about the choices they make on the road.
"Young people need to be aware that when they are in control of a car they need to think about passengers, pedestrians, themselves and other drivers."
Official road safety figures published last year highlighted the high incidence of death and serious injury among young people who were passengers in cars, with over half of the passengers killed or seriously injured in 2012 being aged under 30.
Under-17s made up 14 per cent of such casualties, with 17 to 19-year-olds accounting for 15 per cent and 20 to 29-year-olds making up 25 per cent.
Prime Minister Praises Work Of Courageous Norfolk Woman
A road safety campaigner who was paralysed in a car accident as a teenager has won a national award for her work.Jordan Bone, from King's Lynn in Norfolk, has won the Points of Light Prime Minister award, which recognises the positive impact made by volunteers whose work inspires others and makes a difference in their community.
Ms Bone was paralysed from the chest down at the age of 15 after an accident in May 2005, when the car in which she was a passenger skidded on a wet road and landed on its roof.
While the driver and other passengers escaped unharmed, she suffered a spinal cord injury that left her unable to use any of her four limbs.
She has drawn on her own experience and become a busy campaigner for road safety through the Fixers charity, holding regular workshops and seminars in schools and at the Streetlife Driving School. Its chief aim is to educate young motorists about the dangers of letting youthful exuberance get the better of them when they are behind the wheel.
She has also been a member of a road safety forum and has tirelessly lobbied MPs and ministers about the issue.
Praising her work, Prime Minister David Cameron said: "Jordan is a truly courageous young woman."
Expressing her delight at the award, Ms Bone said: "I feel that my Fixers charity project is important to make young people aware about the choices they make on the road.
"Young people need to be aware that when they are in control of a car they need to think about passengers, pedestrians, themselves and other drivers."
Official road safety figures published last year highlighted the high incidence of death and serious injury among young people who were passengers in cars, with over half of the passengers killed or seriously injured in 2012 being aged under 30.
Under-17s made up 14 per cent of such casualties, with 17 to 19-year-olds accounting for 15 per cent and 20 to 29-year-olds making up 25 per cent.
Expert Opinion
Road safety should always be a top priority for all road users and campaigners like Ms Bone play a crucial role in highlighting the need for safety improvements. She has experienced first-hand the devastating and often life-changing consequences of being involved in a collision on the road and has dedicated her efforts to helping reduce similar incidents in the future. <br/> <br/>“We hope that safety campaigning strikes a chord with road users and people continue to take their responsibilities for their own safety, and that of others, seriously. We would also urge the government and local authorities to continue to work with charities and ensure that all measures are taken, including education campaigns like this, to reduce any potential risks on all routes.”
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