Laura Sone-Demetrious was killed while crossing the dual carriageway at a pedestrian crossing in January, reports James Cracknell

The sister of a young woman killed while crossing the A10 in Edmonton has issued an emotional plea for more safety measures on the road – as well as a series of law changes.

Laura Sone-Demetrious died after being hit by a car on the dual carriageway on 9^th January. She was aged 28. Her two dogs, which she was walking at the time, were also killed.

A 17-year-old boy arrested in connection with the incident, on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and failing to stop, remains on bail pending further police enquiries.

While the criminal investigation continues, Laura’s sister Gina has launched a petition calling for more safety measures along the road, particularly the stretch through Edmonton where Laura was killed. In addition, Gina hopes to use the petition to start discussions around changes to the law designed to reduce dangers on the road – with an act of parliament she says could be dubbed “Laura’s law”.

It is not the first petition to call for improvements on the A10, as only last year more than 2,000 people signed a call for Transport for London (TfL) to install average speed cameras between the Southbury Road and North Circular junctions.

Gina told the Dispatch: “This road is not safe. Me and my mum were almost killed five years ago, there were three cars speeding and one of them nearly hit my mum’s car, we nearly tipped over. And there are times when I have been crossing and even if there is a red light the cars haven’t stopped. The road is just really, really dangerous.”

The A10 is notorious for being used by drivers who race each other, with ‘car meets’ regularly being organised at retail parks along the road.

In 2020, local politicians were successful in persuading TfL to install average speed cameras on the northern stretch through Enfield, between Southbury Road and Bullsmoor Road. Figures have since shown a significant drop in injuries along this part of the road, while injuries on the Edmonton section have remained at a similar level.

Gina said: “In that particular area [where Laura was killed] there are no speed cameras. They should be all over the A10. All along the road you see flowers, posters and plaques for other people being killed, it has gone on for years.

“There needs to be a sense of urgency.”

In addition to road safety measures specific to the A10, Gina’s petition also calls for action at a national level, with a review of sentencing guidelines for those convicted of dangerous driving, mandatory ‘black boxes’ being installed on vehicles, a graduated licensing system for young drivers, and engine capacity restrictions for cars driven by new and young drivers.

“Our goal is to make it the law – Laura’s law,” says Gina. “She was 28, she had her whole life ahead of her, everyone is heartbroken by it.

“People’s lives matter and it is getting out of hand, especially late at night, people are scared because of these dangerous drivers and it needs to be stopped now.”

Gina’s petition, which so far has around 500 signatures via Change.org, adds: “The loss of my sister, an event that has caused unbearable grief, should not be in vain. It should ignite us into making the A10 a safer travel route for everybody. […] It’s about ensuring that no family must endure the pain of losing a loved one unnecessarily.”

Sign Gina’s road safety petition:
Visit change.org/p/improve-road-safety-measures-on-the-a10

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