Max Greenhouse died when the car he was travelling in crashed
Max Greenhouse’s family and friends on their campaign walk including his parents Andy and Ally (centre left)
Around 100 people wearing blue were spotted walking in one area of Merseyside today to raise awareness of Max’s Mission. Max Greenhouse was a loved, ambitious and full-of-life teenager who died in a crash while in a car with three of his friends.
The 17-year-old was a passenger in a Vauxhall Corsa travelling along Fir Tree Lane in Aughton when it left the road and hit a farm building shortly after 9pm on Wednesday, December 11 2024. He suffered serious injuries and was rushed to hospital but sadly died a short time later.
Since his death, the family have received an outpouring of love and support from the community, with many of Max’s friends writing letters explaining how he had helped them in various ways, encouraging them to do what they enjoyed. It has also seen his heartbroken parents, Ally and Andy Greenhouse, campaign for graduated driving licences (GDLs) through Max’s Mission.
Not only that, the family are encouraging law changes around how many hours learner drivers must log behind the wheel before passing their test in a bid to make the roads safer.
Max Greenhouse’s family and friends on their campaign walk
Max himself was learning to drive when he was killed, preparing to start lessons after being out in the car with his dad on several occasions, with his parents keen to ensure he was not rushed into driving.
The initiative would see restrictions placed on new drivers who have recently passed their practical driving test. It would allow drivers to be gradually given privileges drivers have.
Last year, the RAC supported a parliamentary bill put forward by MP Kim Leadbeater but did not progress due to the General Election being called. Since then, a petition has been started and Max’s family are backing the law change.
The petition was created by Crystal Owen, mum of 17-year-old Harvey Owen who died, alongside three of his friends who were all 18, when the car they were travelling in left the road, flipped and landed in water, with all four drowning.
Blue heart shaped balloons in memory of Max Greenhouse in Maghull
Andy and Ally’s campaigning has seen blue ribbons placed across Lydiate, Maghull and the surrounding area as they encourage people to take the time read the petition, which now has over 100,000 signatures.
Speaking about the law change, Andy previously told the ECHO: “It’s open for discussion with the government if they want to discuss it. There’s no set rule at the moment but the data from the countries where they’ve took it on is showing that it reduces deaths or serious accidents in younger drivers. That’s the reason we’re looking at it, we believe it would have potentially helped or prevented Max.”
Today, April 26, saw Max’s family and friends, including Ally’s mum Kate Shenton suffers who with peripheral neuropathy, walk from Maghull to Ormskirk to raise awareness about the campaign. They began the walk at Furasato in Maghull before making her way up Northway and into Ormskirk. The walk then finished at The Green Room in Ormskirk.
Kate’s diagnosis means she struggles to walk but has been training herself in order to complete the walk with people from the community who knew and loved Max. The campaign from the family has seen the inception of Max’s Mission as they push for the government to introduce GDLs.
People were wearing blue in memory of Max
Andy said: “We just want people to have a look at the petition, read it, make your own mind up. If you think it’s right and want to support it, support it, if you don’t, that’s fine.
“But just take five minutes and have a look for us and that’s all we can ask for. Just give it five minutes of your time and try to understand where it’s coming from and we’re trying to do.
“If you read and think it’s worthwhile, it’s not costing you anything other than a few minutes to sign the petition. Hopefully it just gets people talking and government trying to do something.”
To read more about the petition the family are supporting or to sign, click here.