Issue 289 – Devastated Frome mum joins national campaign against drink and drug driving

Story posted on December 9, 2009

A bereaved mum devastated by drink and drug-drive crashes is adding her voice to that of Brake, the national road safety charity, in a campaign aimed at stopping the carnage caused by drink and drug driving across the region.

Clare Brixey, from Frome, whose son Ashley, 20, was killed as a passenger in a car, while coming back from a night out with friends, has added her support to the ‘Not a drop, not a drag’ campaign. The driver, Ashley’s friend Richard, was driving at twice the legal drink drive limit and with an abusive level of drugs in his system. He was jailed for causing death by dangerous driving.
Clare Brixey says, “In October 2004 a young drugged driver changed my family’s lives forever. Many young drivers see driving as thrilling and exciting, an expression of their freedom. Some come under intense peer pressure to take risks behind the wheel. But as I know all too well, the combination of inexperience and risk-taking can be devastating.
“I’m helping to launch Road Safety Week to urge every driver, young and old, to take responsibility for their actions behind the wheel and make a pledge not to drink a drop of alcohol or take a drag of a joint or any other drug before driving. By doing this, we will be working as a community to stop needless tragedies like the death of my son”
Clare joined firefighters, police and ambulance crews in Trowbridge to run a ‘Safe Drive Stay Alive Roadshow’ for young people in Road Safety Week, on 24th and 25th November.
The timing of Clare’s plea is especially relevant as the lead up to Christmas, and the party season is seen as a time when drink driving becomes a particularly important issue.