Paul Green
PFD Report
All Responded
Ref: 2026-0146
All 1 response received
· Deadline: 7 May 2026
Coroner's Concerns (AI summary)
The current system allows inexperienced 17-year-old drivers to drive unsupervised with teenage passengers, which is a factor in collisions and increases the risk of future fatal incidents.
View full coroner's concerns
The driver of the vehicle which crashed was 17 years of age. The three passengers in the car including Paul Green who died were also under 18. There were no adults in the car. I heard evidence from Forensic Collision Investigator that the collision was likely a result of understeering while negotiating a bend which was a result of the driver's inexperience. She had only passed her test a few weeks prior to the collision. I also heard evidence that the presence of other teenagers in the car (none of whom it appeared had driving experience) is a factor in a number of collisions. I am concerned that when 17 year olds pass a driving test, they can drive on any road in the UK including motorways without any adult supervision. I believe this current state of affairs is likely to lead to further fatal collisions if it remains unaddressed.
Regulation 28 – After Inquest Template Updated 15/07/2025 TG
Regulation 28 – After Inquest Template Updated 15/07/2025 TG
Responses
Noted
(AI summary)
(AI summary)
View full response
Dear Gareth,
RESPONSE TO REGULATION 28 REPORT TO PREVENT FUTURE DEATHS
Thank you for your letter of 12 March enclosing your Regulation 28 Report to Prevent Future Deaths dated 12 March 2026 made under the Coroners and Justice Act 2009 and the Coroners (Investigations) Regulations 2013, following the inquest you conducted into the death of Paul Walker Green.
I am deeply saddened by the circumstances of Paul Green’s death and I would like to extend my sincere condolences to his family and friends.
Improving road safety is one of my Department’s highest priorities. Too many people are killed and seriously injured in road traffic collisions, and this Government will work hard to prevent these tragedies for all road users. Whilst UK roads are among the safest in the world, there is no room for complacency, and I have carefully considered your report and its recommendations.
The latest statistics do show that the number of car fatalities involving 17 to 24-year-olds on Britain’s roads is falling – from 448 in 1990 to 73 in 2024. This is an 84% total decrease. However, there is no room for complacency. In terms of population and the number of miles driven, 17– 24-year-olds, particularly young men, remain one of the highest fatality risk groups both as car drivers and passengers.
That is one reason why, on 7 January 2026 my Department published our new Road Safety Strategy, setting out our vision for a safer future on our roads for all. The Strategy sets an ambitious target to reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured on British roads by 65% by 2035. This target will focus the efforts of road safety partners across Britain, with measures to improve road design, protect vulnerable road users, and review motoring offences. All of this will be supported and monitored by a new Road Safety Board which I will chair.
Whilst we are not considering further restrictions on newly qualified drivers, such as carrying passengers, we are consulting on a Minimum Learning Period before learner drivers can take their practical driving test. This would allow learners more time to gain essential experience, for example in different weather conditions, before driving independently and reduce the risk to themselves and other drivers. We believe this strikes an appropriate balance between addressing specific risks pertaining to younger drivers, whilst allowing them to exercise new freedoms that passing your driving test can bring.
We are also consulting on a lower drink drive limit for newly qualified drivers in England and Wales with the intention of reducing collisions amongst this group.
The consultation on introducing a Minimum Learning Period for learner drivers closes on 11 May and can be found at:
period-for-learner-drivers/introducing-a-minimum-learning-period-for-learner- drivers-category-b-driving-licence.
I am also aware that seat belts were a factor in the death of Paul Green. We recognise the devastating consequences of failing to wear a seat belt. That is why, through the consultation on proposed changes to penalties for motoring offences, we are seeking views on whether drivers who fail to wear a seat belt, or who fail to ensure that a child under 14 is wearing an appropriate restraint, should receive 3 penalty points.
The consultation on motoring offences closes on 11 May and can be found at:
motoring-offences. Once these and other road safety consultations have concluded, we will publish our responses in due course.
I want to reiterate that this Government treats road safety seriously, and we are committed to reducing the numbers of those killed and injured on our roads.
Best wishes,
MINISTER FOR LOCAL TRANSPORT
RESPONSE TO REGULATION 28 REPORT TO PREVENT FUTURE DEATHS
Thank you for your letter of 12 March enclosing your Regulation 28 Report to Prevent Future Deaths dated 12 March 2026 made under the Coroners and Justice Act 2009 and the Coroners (Investigations) Regulations 2013, following the inquest you conducted into the death of Paul Walker Green.
I am deeply saddened by the circumstances of Paul Green’s death and I would like to extend my sincere condolences to his family and friends.
Improving road safety is one of my Department’s highest priorities. Too many people are killed and seriously injured in road traffic collisions, and this Government will work hard to prevent these tragedies for all road users. Whilst UK roads are among the safest in the world, there is no room for complacency, and I have carefully considered your report and its recommendations.
The latest statistics do show that the number of car fatalities involving 17 to 24-year-olds on Britain’s roads is falling – from 448 in 1990 to 73 in 2024. This is an 84% total decrease. However, there is no room for complacency. In terms of population and the number of miles driven, 17– 24-year-olds, particularly young men, remain one of the highest fatality risk groups both as car drivers and passengers.
That is one reason why, on 7 January 2026 my Department published our new Road Safety Strategy, setting out our vision for a safer future on our roads for all. The Strategy sets an ambitious target to reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured on British roads by 65% by 2035. This target will focus the efforts of road safety partners across Britain, with measures to improve road design, protect vulnerable road users, and review motoring offences. All of this will be supported and monitored by a new Road Safety Board which I will chair.
Whilst we are not considering further restrictions on newly qualified drivers, such as carrying passengers, we are consulting on a Minimum Learning Period before learner drivers can take their practical driving test. This would allow learners more time to gain essential experience, for example in different weather conditions, before driving independently and reduce the risk to themselves and other drivers. We believe this strikes an appropriate balance between addressing specific risks pertaining to younger drivers, whilst allowing them to exercise new freedoms that passing your driving test can bring.
We are also consulting on a lower drink drive limit for newly qualified drivers in England and Wales with the intention of reducing collisions amongst this group.
The consultation on introducing a Minimum Learning Period for learner drivers closes on 11 May and can be found at:
period-for-learner-drivers/introducing-a-minimum-learning-period-for-learner- drivers-category-b-driving-licence.
I am also aware that seat belts were a factor in the death of Paul Green. We recognise the devastating consequences of failing to wear a seat belt. That is why, through the consultation on proposed changes to penalties for motoring offences, we are seeking views on whether drivers who fail to wear a seat belt, or who fail to ensure that a child under 14 is wearing an appropriate restraint, should receive 3 penalty points.
The consultation on motoring offences closes on 11 May and can be found at:
motoring-offences. Once these and other road safety consultations have concluded, we will publish our responses in due course.
I want to reiterate that this Government treats road safety seriously, and we are committed to reducing the numbers of those killed and injured on our roads.
Best wishes,
MINISTER FOR LOCAL TRANSPORT
Sent To
- Department for Transport
Response Status
Linked responses
1 of 1
56-Day Deadline
7 May 2026
All responses received
About PFD responses
Organisations named in PFD reports must respond within 56 days explaining what actions they are taking.
Source: Courts and Tribunals Judiciary
Report Sections
Investigation and Inquest
On 29 November 2024 I commenced an investigation into the death of Paul Walker GREEN aged 16. The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 12 March 2026. The conclusion of the inquest was that: Paul Walker Green was a rear side passenger in a car. The driver of the car failed to appropriately negotiate a right hand bend, by understeering, leading to the car colliding with a tree and rolling onto its’ roof. The collision with the tree caused Paul Green to suffer fatal head injuries. The driver had recently passed her test and her inexperience likely contributed to the actions she took. Paul green was not wearing a seatbelt which may also have contributed to his death. Paul Walker Green died on the 27th of November 2024 at Emsworth Common in Emsworth of head injuries caused in the collision.
Circumstances of the Death
Paul Walker Green was a rear side passenger in a car. The driver of the car failed to appropriately negotiate a right hand bend, by understeering, leading to the car colliding with a tree and rolling onto its’ roof. The collision with the tree caused Paul Green to suffer fatal head injuries. The driver had recently passed her test and her inexperience likely contributed to the actions she took. Paul green was not wearing a seatbelt which may also have contributed to his death. Paul Walker Green died on the 27th of November 2024 at Emsworth Common in Emsworth of head injuries caused in the collision.
Copies Sent To
Sussex Police
Similar PFD Reports
Reports sharing organisations, categories, or themes
Data sourced from Courts and Tribunals Judiciary under the Open Government Licence.