Concerns raised 4 Lack of legal restrictions on the licences of young and newly qualified drivers View source Lack of roadside barrier or fence preventing vehicles entering the ditch View source Vehicle licensing regime permitting young passengers to be carried by young and newly qualified drivers View source Water-filled ditch below road level beside the carriageway View source See 1 more concern
No linked response statements No action or position from this recipient is clearly linked to the concerns in this report.
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AI-generated summary
Wilfred John Fitchett and 3 others · Prevention of Future Deaths report
This summary was generated using AI from the published report. Please read the original report for the complete account.
Report summary
On 19 November 2023, a vehicle carrying four young men left the A4085, entered a water-filled drainage ditch and all four died from drowning; the vehicle was found on 21 November 2023. The report raises concerns about the absence of legal restrictions on young or newly qualified drivers carrying young passengers and the risk of further deaths in similar circumstances.
Read the report on judiciary.uk
× Source evidence
How this individual concern was interpreted PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. The report was sent to Clough Williams-Ellis Foundation; that does not assign responsibility.
PFD Monitor interpretation Lack of legal restrictions on the licences of young and newly qualified drivers
Wider context from the report “b. Currently, there are no legal restrictions upon the licences of young and/or newly qualified drivers and the current vehicle licensing regime permits the carrying of young persons as passengers in circumstances such as these.
c. It is noted that young drivers are exponentially more likely to be involved in a collision with each similar aged passengers in the car.
d. I am concerned that deaths will continue to occur or will occur into the future where younger persons are carried in motor vehicles being driven by newly qualified and/or young drivers.
” Open source report × Source evidence
How this individual concern was interpreted PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. The report was sent to Clough Williams-Ellis Foundation; that does not assign responsibility.
PFD Monitor interpretation Lack of roadside barrier or fence preventing vehicles entering the ditch
Wider context from the report “b. A stock fence had been erected (likely by the private landowner) concerning the lane of the road in question. It is understood that Cyngor Gwynedd had no responsibility for this given that it was on private land. The stock fence had been damaged and had not been replaced prior to the collision on 19 November 2023.
c. Whilst the evidence could not determine whether or not the fence, had it been repaired and in situ at the time of the collision, would have altered the outcome the risk to road users who leave the road accidentally is that they may land in the ditch below the road level .
d. Cyngor Gwynedd has installed a chevron board at the bend but there is no barrier or fence otherwise to prevent motor vehicles leaving the road into the ditch at this bend in the event of leaving the carriageway accidentally .
” Open source report × Source evidence
How this individual concern was interpreted PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. The report was sent to Clough Williams-Ellis Foundation; that does not assign responsibility.
PFD Monitor interpretation Vehicle licensing regime permitting young passengers to be carried by young and newly qualified drivers
Wider context from the report “b. Currently, there are no legal restrictions upon the licences of young and/or newly qualified drivers and the current vehicle licensing regime permits the carrying of young persons as passengers in circumstances such as these .
c. It is noted that young drivers are exponentially more likely to be involved in a collision with each similar aged passengers in the car.
d. I am concerned that deaths will continue to occur or will occur into the future where younger persons are carried in motor vehicles being driven by newly qualified and/or young drivers.
” Open source report × Source evidence
How this individual concern was interpreted PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. The report was sent to Clough Williams-Ellis Foundation; that does not assign responsibility.
PFD Monitor interpretation Water-filled ditch below road level beside the carriageway
Wider context from the report “a. The specific road area in question along the A4085 Garreg, Llanfrothen had a ditch downward from the road at the nearside of the carriageway . This fills with water during heavy periods of rainfall .
” Open source report
Includes reports addressed to a minister or senior office-holder acting for this organisation.
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Information checked against published PFD reports and official responses · Data reviewed 7 Sep 2026 · About data quality and limitations