MOTORISTS who were caught speeding on St Helens roads have been urged to drive safely by the parents of Violet-Grace Youens.

Violet, aged four, died after being struck by a car travelling at 80mph on Prescot Road in March this year.

This week her parents Rebecca and Glenn joined Merseyside Road Safety Partnership at an event that pleaded drivers who have flouted the law to slow down. They hope sharing Violet's Story will save lives.

A speed awareness seminar was held at the town hall earlier this week for drivers pulled over in a traffic enforcement operation between Merseyside Police and St Helens Council’s Road Safety team.

During the operation – attended by Merseyside’s Police and Crime Commissioner Jane Kennedy – police officers used speed radar guns to check drivers were adhering to the 30mph speed limit and stop those who weren’t. They also stopped drivers using mobile phones and anyone observed not wearing seat belts.

Thirty drivers were caught excessively speeding and handed traffic offence reports, while 80 caught at lower speeds (up to and including 35mph) were given the option of attending the seminar, instead of the report and the fines incurred.

The interactive seminar included speeches from the police, council officers, charity RoadPeace, and a driving instructor.

Concluding the seminar, Rebecca and Glenn, of Eccleston, shared their harrowing ordeal.

Rebecca said: "We would like to thank Merseyside Police and St Helens Council for giving us the opportunity to tell Violet's Story, and hopefully change perspectives on speeding.

"Even a few miles per hour over the limit, can make a huge difference to whether there is a casualty, or a death. We would like people to sit back and think about their driving, and what impact that can have on other people.

“Drivers are not the only people on the road, and it’s sometimes just thinking outside the box. We are facing the devastating fact that Christmas is around the corner, and we will never get to spend it with Violet again.

"We should have a very excited little girl, telling us 'I'm on the good list, mummy and daddy'.

Violet should be playing with her little brother, and we should see the special bond they have grow and develop. They both should be excited on Christmas Eve, probably too excited to sleep, because Santa is coming.

"Waking up on Christmas morning together to check the mince pie, and carrot have been eaten, then opening their presents and playing together all day.

“Instead, our daughter has been killed by a speeding driver, and our poor son doesn't understand where his big sister, and best friend has gone.

"We have to try and be positive for our son, even though our hearts are broken inside.

"Hopefully, by telling Violet's Story, she will go on to save more lives. We miss our beautiful, sweet and kind daughter, every single minute, of every day; the pain is unbearable.

“All we ask people to do is to consider their driving style and speed. Hopefully then there will be less fatalities and injuries on the road, and other families will not have to experience the pain and heartbreak we do now. Violet has a life sentence, we have a life sentence – this is permanent, irreversible.”

Rebecca also touched on how Violet-Grace went on to save two lives after her death through organ donation.

Attendees were given packs to take home, containing information from all the partnership agencies and a free copy of the Highway Code, which many drivers don’t review after passing their test.

Chief Inspector Steve Brizell said: “The death of Violet-Grace was an avoidable tragedy and the devastating impact of this incident and all serious collisions is deeply felt by family, friends and the wider community.

"An event like this allows Merseyside Police and our partners to highlight the consequences of driving at excess speeds, both for the victims and the drivers themselves.

"We want to educate people about the dangers of speeding, not simply enforce action against road users, and if people left the seminar with a greater understanding of the potential consequences of their actions, then we have succeeded and we will continue to do everything in our power to reduce incidents.”

Councillor Terry Shields, St Helens Council’s Cabinet Member for Green, Smart and Sustainable Borough, with responsibility for road safety, said: “Every death or serious injury on the roads of our borough is one too many.

"The death of Violet-Grace is a tragedy still fresh in our memory as a community and I’m certain that nobody wishes to see a day like that again. I’d urge drivers to be more aware of their speed and take greater care, as even a few miles per hour above the speed limit can make a big difference in a collision.”

VIOLET-Grace's parents are to speak at a speed seminar on Tuesday as part of an operation carried out to mark National Road Safety week.

The operation saw officers check speeds across the borough, including close to the site where Violet-Grace Youens was the victim of a hit-and-run on Prescot Road in March alongside her gran Angela French who suffered severe injuries.

During the operation, police officers used speed guns to check drivers were adhering to the 30mph limit and stopped those who weren’t.

They also stopped drivers using mobile phones and anyone observed not wearing seat belts.

Drivers caught speeding were handed traffic offence reports, those caught at lower speeds (up to and including 35mph) were given the option of attending a Speed Seminar at St Helens Town Hall on Tuesday, December 5, instead of the report and the fines incurred.

The town hall event will feature presentations, including one by Violet's mum and dad Becky and Glenn Youens who will be making an emotional plea for motorists to drive safely, touching on the devastating impact such carelessness can have.

Other speakers will include representatives from St Helens Council’s Road Safety Team, Merseyside Police, Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service, national charity RoadPeace, and a driving instructor.

Over the course of the week’s operation, 110 drivers were caught driving over the speed limit and penalised, with 80 of those referred to the speed seminar.

Merseyside Police and Crime Commissioner, Jane Kennedy said: “Speeding is killing people on the roads of Merseyside. Too many people are knocked down, knocked off their motor bikes and cycles every year, or are injured in their cars. The figures also show that the public of Merseyside are more likely to be killed or seriously injured per head of population than similar Metropolitan areas.

“I take road safety very seriously and that’s why I was pleased to join representatives from Merseyside’s Road Safety Partnership and St Helens Council, near to the spot where Violet-Grace was killed, to mark National Road Safety Week.”

Cllr Terry Shields, St Helens Council’s cabinet member for green, smart and sustainable borough, added: “Every death or serious injury on the roads of our borough is one too many.

"The death of Violet-Grace is a tragedy still fresh in our memory as a community and I’m certain that nobody wishes to see a day like that again.

"I’d urge drivers to be more aware of their speed and take greater care, as even a few miles per hour above the speed limit can make a big difference in a collision.

“I’d like to thank Merseyside Police and the council’s Road Safety Team for their hard work on this operation, and particularly the Police and Crime Commissioner for actively supporting this work and highlighting this important issue across Merseyside.”