A Birmingham gym owner has spoken out against dangerous driving after a 13-year-old schoolboy was seriously injured. The boy suffered a suspected broken leg when he was struck by a car on Montgomery Street in Sparkbrook on Thursday, 23 July.
The teenager, believed to be on his way to Ronin Muay Thai-a local martial arts gym owned by Yusaf Khan-was left critically hurt in the incident.
Mr Khan, 53, who spent nearly 15 years as a police community support officer before dedicating himself to teaching martial arts, expressed deep concern over the increase in reckless driving in the area. Raised in Balsall Heath, he was inspired to practise martial arts after watching Bruce Lee films, but feels that his community now faces dangerous conditions on its roads.
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He told BirminghamLive: “In the last three years, this has become a much bigger problem. I think younger drivers now have access to high-powered cars, especially here, and too often they ignore speed limits, accelerate aggressively, and overtake dangerously.
“As a driver myself, I’m constantly watching my rear-view mirror, trying to decide whether to speed up or pull over. My main worry is keeping students safe as they travel to the gym. I’ve even shifted most classes to the mornings when the roads are quieter, to reduce the risk posed by these reckless drivers.”
The collision involving the schoolboy followed another collision on Montgomery Street, where a motorbike crashed into a car. Mr Khan expressed fears over the boy’s recovery and the wider impact on the community, stating that parents are now hesitant to let their children attend the gym due to safety concerns.
“I don’t know if he will be able to train again,” said Mr Khan. “His older brother shared that the incident has been traumatic for the family. We’ve had parents contacting me worried about their kids' safety, and some are refusing to send their children here unless they accompany them themselves.
“Something like this was inevitable, a ticking timebomb. It’s crucial that the community unites to say ‘this has to stop’. We need stronger community responses to road crime and hit-and-run offences, and the legal system must impose tougher penalties on offenders.
“Traffic calming measures and a pedestrian crossing outside the gym would be very welcome.
“We’re trying to steer young people away from antisocial behaviour and crime by keeping them engaged in the gym, but with drivers speeding dangerously past, we can’t even keep them safe getting here.”
A West Midlands Police spokesperson confirmed an investigation is ongoing: “We are investigating a collision between a car and a pedestrian on Montgomery Street, Birmingham, that occurred on 23 July. A teenager was hospitalised with serious leg injuries. We are working to identify the driver involved. Anyone with information can contact us on 101, quoting log 4458 of 23 July.”