THE launch today of national Road Safety Week is particularly poignant for a Bradford woman whose mother was killed by danger drivers six years ago.

Sarah Harrison’s mother, Mary Byrne, was killed near her home in Horton Bank Top in April 2013 while she was paying for a taxi journey when the minicab she was in was struck by a vehicle which was racing with another.

Mrs Byrne was killed and the minicab driver badly injured. The danger drivers, aged 19 and 21 at the time, were later jailed for causing death by dangerous driving.

Mrs Harrison, 37, a mother of four including seven-year-old twins, said the memory was still very raw but through her family liaison officer (FLO) and road safety charity, Brake, has helped spread the anti-danger driving message through visits to schools and awareness events.

“The crash happened near my home and I remember being told my mum was there.

“The two men involved served half their sentence and are now out and living their lives while those left behind still suffer,” she said.

Mrs Harrison emphasised that Road Safety Week was not only about those killed in incidents as a great many people suffer life-changing injuries but get little mention.

“The minicab driver was himself badly injured and I don’t know how he is now. I know he sent his brother to my mum’s funeral because he couldn’t get there. I thought that was such a kind thing to do.”

Analysis from Brake has revealed that on average 54 people are killed or seriously injured on roads in Yorkshire and the Humber every week.

In the Bradford district alone last year, there were 181 incidents resulting in death and serious injury, including pedestrians.

A UK-wide survey of 2,000 adults, commissioned by the charity, has also shown that nearly a third of adults were in a collision, or had a near miss, with a vehicle on a UK road in the past year, with a quarter (26 per cent) of residents in Yorkshire and the Humber stating they were involved in such incidents. Road safety campaigners believe that crashes and near misses have a big impact on people’s perceptions of safety.

Through the charity, Mrs Harrison has spoken to parents and teenagers to raise their awareness of road dangers and the need to be responsible for their driving behaviour. She also talks about why she believes there should be a safer licensing system for young drivers. Alongside her work with schools she has put on road safety-related performances and has spoken with new police family liaison officers about her experience with the liaison process.

“After going into one school to speak to the next generation of drivers and seeing one of the parents at a subsequent meeting, she told me how the talk had left an impression on her and how she was much more driver-aware now.

“Before she said she didn’t use a seat belt and now she does. She also said she puts her mobile phone in the glove box when driving.

“What I want is for parents to impress on their children the danger of driving at speed and without care and hopefully it will encourage better awareness and safety,” Mrs Harrison said.

Further details about Road Safety Week can be found at www.roadsafetyweek.org.uk