THE sorrow and anguish of a mother who had just lost her teenage son in a motorbike accident will forever haunt the memory of one woman.

More than 40 years ago Ann Dean, who lives near Kington, visited a woman who a few hours before had lost her 17-year-old son in the crash.

She said it is important for people to be educated about speed and concentration, as motorcyclists can sometimes be hard to see.

“I never want to experience that again, the sorrow and anguish, cannot be described,” Ms Dean said.

“The memory haunts me still. It was an unforgettable and upsetting experience.

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“I don’t think it made me any more cautious, I tend to be over-cautious when driving.

“But it did make me realise the suffering to the family, friends and other people involved.

“How in one brief moment one’s life and the lives of other people can change forever.”

The Hereford Times #SlowDownStaySafe campaign is urging drivers to curb their speeds, particularly in the run-up to the return of the dark nights at the end of October.

Around Kington, there are signs on the A44 reminding motorcyclists to ride carefully and these act as a reminder to car drivers as well.

Ms Dean said: “I live just over the border in Gladestry and the signs, while meant for the motorbike users, somehow have made me more aware to watch out for them,” she added.

“I really think it’s educating people about speed and concentration.”

Figures from the Department for Transport (DfT) show motorcyclists account for just one per cent of road users, but 25 per cent of all serious injuries from crashes.

The DfT found more than half of car drivers broke 30mph speed limits, and on 20mph roads, 86 per cent of cars exceeded it.

Students have been given a powerful visual reminder of the dangers of the road at an event which aims to reduce death and serious injury on Herefordshire’s roads.

Hundreds of pupils, who are only passengers at the moment but could soon be behind the wheel, took part in the ‘Dying to Drive’ road safety scheme during September.

The key safety messages were reinforced with workshops focusing on the causes of crashes such as not wearing seatbelts, driving while impaired and driving with distractions.

“It is very beneficial for our students,” said Weobley High School deputy head teacher David Nicholas.