MOD urges US government to train staff to drive on the left in Britain to avoid further tragedies like the death of Harry Dunn
The US government has been urged by the Ministry of Defence for its staff in the UK to undertake training so they remember to drive on the left side of the road after the tragic death of Harry Dunn.
The US government has been urged by the Ministry of Defence for its staff in the UK to undertake training so they remember to drive on the left side of the road after the tragic death of Harry Dunn.
The military department said it is committed to ensuring lessons are properly learnt in light of the teens death and have sought assurance that visiting American diplomats and military personnel are aware of the dangers of wrong way driving.
Their response came after an inquest found the 19-year-old motorcyclist had tragically died when American intelligence worker Anne Sacoolas was driving on the wrong side of the road.
As a result of driving on the right side, instead of the left, she hit Mr Dunn head-on, outside RAF Croughton in August 2019 and caused his death.
However, 19 days after the incident she successfully managed to leave the UK under diplomatic immunity laws, as she is married to a CIA operative.
Sacoolas had been driving on the wrong side of the road for 20 seconds before she hit Mr Dunn (pictured) outside RAF Croughton in Northamptonshire
Sacoolas (pictured in 2021), an American intelligence worker, was driving on the wrong side of the road when she hit Mr Dunn head-on outside RAF Croughton in August 2019 and caused his death
Senior coroner for Northamptonshire, Anne Pember pointed out Sacoolas had received no familiarisation or any other form of training between her arrival and the crash. Pictured: The arrows showing drivers outside RAF Croughton which side of the road to drive on
Senior coroner for Northamptonshire, Anne Pember, concluded the fatal collision may not have occurred had Sacoolas been familiarised with the Highway Code and driving rules in the UK.
Responding to her comments, the MoD said: The government has sought and received further assurances from the US authorities in the UK, both military and diplomatic, that driver training mandated for US Visiting Forces and diplomats, as well as their dependants, includes and will continue to include a focus on driving on the left, and the dangers of not doing so.
There is a continual need to focus on the issue of driver training and road safety awareness, especially as military forces and diplomats rotate through the UK.
At Mr Dunns inquest, it was heard Sacoolas inadvertently moved onto the wrong side of the road, where she drove for 350m before the impact as the motorcyclist travelled out of Croughton, Northants.
As a result of the crash, he suffered catastrophic injuries which included fractures to all four of his limbs and he died when taken to hospital.
Mrs Pember concluded Mr Dunn had died as a result of a road traffic collision.
In a Prevention of Future Death report, she revealed matters giving rise to concern heard at the inquest about driving instructions to Americans arriving in Britain.
She said of the two categories of US workforce at the base - the Military personnel and Diplomatic personnel - only the former received briefing of driving in the UK.
Nothing was provided to the diplomatic personnel, she wrote, of which Sacoolas belonged.
Mrs Pember pointed out Sacoolas had received no familiarisation or any other form of training between her arrival and the crash.
The US government has been urged to train staff in the UK to drive on the left following the death of teenage motorcyclist Harry Dunn (pictured) in a crash with diplomat Anne Sacoolas
Prior to the accident she had passed a throwback arrow signalling to a driver if they happened to be overtaking to get back to the left hand side, she continued.
However, [she] had not yet familiarised herself with the UK Highway Code and neither had she been trained in the differences in and significance of road signs in the UK.
Had she received appropriate training reminding her to keep to the left and to help her to understand and interpret the UK road signs and markings it is possible the collision with Mr Dunn may not have occurred.
Despite assurances from the US Embassy during the inquest that driver training was now provided to all personnel after Mr Dunns death, Mrs Pember issued a warning.
The evidence heard at the inquest as to the content of that briefing/training was at odds with what had been described by the US Embassy, she added.
Specifically I was told that the driving training being provided did not specifically cover the risks of wrong way driving.
That creates a concern for me as to a risk of future deaths.
She continued: In my opinion action should be taken to prevent future deaths and I believe you have the power to take such action.
Mrs Pember wrote to The Americas Section of the Foreign and Commonwealth and Development Office and the MOD, and called for better training of US staff.
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Defence said they are committed to continue work with the US to maintain their focus on driving-related issues.
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has also written to all diplomatic missions in the UK, reminding them of their responsibilities in respect of road safety awareness and driving standards in the UK, they added.
It follows Mr Dunns family expressing their bitter disappointment at Sacoolas failing to turn up for any of the 19-year-olds four-day inquest.
Speaking at court in June, Mr Dunns mother, Charlotte Charles, reiterated her disgust at Sacoolas and the US Embassys decision not to attend - labelling it disrespectful to her son and adding that it would forever leave us feeling bitterly disappointed in her.
Ms Charles said: We have come to the end of our huge fight. Does it bring closure to our loss? I dont think that ever happens.
It further bolsters my opinion that they [the US government] have no regard for myself or my family, our wider family - they just dont care.
The family of Harry Dunn were told Anne Sacoolas was willing to attend the inquest remotely provided their lawyer did not ask questions.
Ms Charles is seen with Mr Dunns twin brother Niall at his second funeral, held after human tissue was found on clothing which had been returned to the family
Mr Dunns father Tim Dunn alongside his wife Tracey Dunn holding tissues the second funeral in March 2024
Pictured: Artists impression of Sacoolas appearing at Westminster Magistrates Court via video-link from the United States in 2022, where she pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving
Sacoolas evidence was delayed twice during the inquest in Northampton, after eleventh hour talks were held to further invite her to attend.
The Dunn family were told that the 45-year-old could have potentially agreed to give live evidence, but only on the condition that questions came only from the coroner and not the familys lawyer Patrick Gibbs KC.
Family spokesman Radd Seiger said the parents rejected the proposal.
What on earth were they thinking of? He said.
Who would seek to restrict a grieving familys opportunity to understand how their son died in that way.
This appeared to us to be yet another attempt to have Ms Sacoolas do things in our justice system that suited her.
As much as the family wanted to hear from her, they are principled people and believe in doing things according to the rules.
Sacoolas appeared before a High Court judge at the Old Bailey via video-link in December 2022, where she pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving.
She was advised against attending her sentencing hearing by her employer, which prompted the family to say they were horrified that the US government was actively interfering in our criminal justice system.
Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb handed her an eight-month prison sentence, suspended for 12 months.
