By Emma Gill Kelly Williams
The mother of a teenager who tragically lost his life due to a single error is urging the public to support her campaign . In March this year, 14 year old Jacob Calland made an impulsive decision to ride on the back of another lad’s e-scooter, a choice that sadly resulted in his death. The duo were navigating the scooter on Timpson Road, crossing the junction at Southmoor Road, Wythenshawe, when they collided with a car and ended up on a third vehicle . Neither of them had donned a helmet or any safety gear. The Manchester Evening News reported the details of the incident, with heartfelt tributes flooding in for the ‘bright and loving’ 14 year old who tragically passed away eight days following the dreadful e-scooter crash in Wythenshawe. In May, Jacob’s mum Carly – who had previously cautioned her son about the risks of e-scooters and denied him permission to own one – courageously decided to share a powerful video about Jacob’s Journey, aiming to deter other youngsters from meeting the same tragic end. Now, the mother-of-two has initiated a petition demanding a ban on e-scooters for those under 18 and stricter regulations surrounding their usage, reports the Manchester Evening News . She is advocating for compulsory licences and insurance, along with helmets and safety equipment, a prohibition on carrying passengers, and harsher penalties for those violating or enabling violations of laws related to the scooters. The petition, which has already garnered nearly 6,000 signatures in just two weeks, states: “We think there is insufficient regulation around the sale and use of e-scooters. We believe the law continues to be broken without sufficient punishment and more collisions. Currently, e-scooters can be sold to people of all ages, leaving open the possibility that they may be used by children.” Carly added: “I’ve lost my son. I don’t want any other family to go through what I’m going through. I’m not saying ban e-scooters completely, I’m saying let’s put rules in place to make them safer. “The police aren’t properly enforcing the current law so people are doing what they want.” The 36 year old expressed her gratitude for the overwhelming support she’s received. “We hit over 5,000 signatures in a week and a half,” she revealed. “I’ve had so many messages of support, it’s clearly an issue that a lot of people want resolved.” The video Carly posted provides insight into the immediate aftermath of the collision, featuring screenshots from social media of individuals questioning the incident, and a phone call informing Carly about Jacob’s accident. The teenager sustained a severe head injury and was promptly given life-saving treatment by paramedics at the scene, before being rushed to the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital. His health sadly worsened, leading to his untimely death on March 27. GMP has pledged to combat and diminish anti-social behaviour involving motorbikes, e-bikes and quadbikes, and will utilise its platforms to amplify Carly’s message about road safety, the perils of e-scooters and Jacob’s Journey in the forthcoming weeks. A campaign initiated a year ago has resulted in numerous arrests and bike seizures across Greater Manchester. In the initial four months of the operation, officers responded to over 500 incidents, made upwards of 50 arrests and confiscated more than 125 bikes from areas including Bolton, Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport and Wigan. PS Grogan, from the Force Prevention Branch, stated: “Here at Greater Manchester Police we are continuing with our unwavering commitment to protecting our communities from the disruption and danger caused by anti-social behaviour involving e-bikes, motorbikes and quad bikes. “We understand the frustration residents feel by reckless riding, and we’re deploying every resource at our disposal – from specialist officers to cutting-edge surveillance technology – to identify offenders and hold them accountable. “This isn’t just about enforcement; it’s about reclaiming our streets and ensuring families can enjoy their neighbourhoods without fear or disturbance. We’re sending a clear message: if you choose to ride anti-socially in Greater Manchester, we will find you, and you will face the consequences. “We are working with other agencies in Community Safety Partnerships, so that action can be taken against tenants where residents are responsible for anti-social behaviour. “We also want to know where these bikes are being stored. Please reach out if you have any information that will help us in our quest to reduce motorcycle-related crime.” To support Carly’s petition, visit the website here. If it garners 100,000 signatures then it will be considered for a debate in Parliament.