'My son died a month after passing driving test'

A mother whose son died in a car crash just a month after passing his driving test has called for tighter rules for young new drivers.

Will Radford passed his test three months after his 17th birthday and died on 13 June last year, after losing control of his car and colliding with an oncoming vehicle.

His mother Jane Radford now wants an extension to the learner driver period, a ban on new drivers aged 17-19 from carrying "peer-aged" passengers for six months and for motorway and rural road experience to be included in lessons.

The Department for Transport said it recognises the increased risks faced by young people on the roads but it is "not considering graduated driving licences".

Will was giving a friend a lift home from college when he lost control as he approached a right hand bend on the A281 Brighton Road, in Horsham.

His car spun and crossed the carriageway before being hit by a vehicle travelling in the opposite direction.

Will was ejected from the vehicle and suffered fatal injuries. He was airlifted to St George's Hospital, London, but died three days later.

Ms Radford, from Horsham, said passing his test just three months after his birthday "felt too fast".

"He wasn't experienced in driving on rural roads" she said, "and he was carrying a passenger, chatting to his passenger, and I feel his death could have been prevented."

Ms Radford said her son "was a lovely, big-hearted boy, he was kind and popular and intelligent".

She added: "He was the kind of son you could be very proud of. He was also an organ donor and his organs went to four other people."

Ms Radford said graduated driving licences would mean new, young drivers avoid distractions and the temptation to "show off".

Sussex Police Chief Constable Jo Shiner, who is also the UK's most senior roads policing officer, supports graduated driving licences and is planning to meet with Ms Radford.

"I am determined that policing and our partners will do all we can to encourage safer behaviours among young and novice drivers," she said.

Research by the AA estimates graduated driving licences could save 58 lives each year and avoid at least 260 serious injuries.

In a statement, the Department for Transport said: "Every death on the roads is a tragedy.

"We are determined to tackle this, including through our THINK! campaign, which has a focus on men aged 17-24 as they are four times more likely to be killed or seriously injured than other drivers."

Limitations on young new drivers carrying passengers in the first few months after they pass their test already exist in Canada, New Zealand and Australia.

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