"SOMETIMES the loss is too difficult to come to terms with even now."

Those are the words of a loving mother whose son died after an accident on a Herefordshire road nearly four years ago.

Mary Bevan, who is backing the our Road Safety Campaign, has told how the death of her son, Andrew Fairclough, changed her life forever.

"It took a long time for the reality to sink in, that my son was not coming back," said Mrs Bevan.

"The shock is on-going and I said at the time that I would never be the same again - I knew that it had taken a lot of me."

Andrew, a father of two who lived in Bredwardine, died on the A438, the main Hereford to Brecon road, near the Garnons Estate on January 26, 2004.

Craig Stocker, a 21-year-old Staunton-on-Wye man, also died in the accident.

"Andrew was 28, a friend and a good son to me, a family man with a lovely partner and two small children and a loving sister," said Mrs Bevan.

"Also the family of the other driver will be suffering and grieving for a lost son too."

Although Mrs Bevan had been involved with the Institute of Advanced Motorists since 1987 she became chairperson of Herefordshire Advanced Motorists, which is affiliated to the Institute, last year.

The organisation runs Skill for Life courses, which are designed to raise driving standards to those required for the advanced driving test.

"I'm really concerned at the tragic loss of life, especially among young people behind the wheel of a car, and their unfortunate passengers," said Mrs Bevan.

"What a waste of good lives and such potential, thrown away by moments of madness and frequent showing off.

"Advanced driving has always been a good idea as it helps to reduce the number of road collisions and since Andrew went I can see it makes even more sense. A moment's bad driving can mean a lifetime's worth of heartache."

She says people benefit from taking the courses on offer.

"Most people say that driving becomes more enjoyable," said Mrs Bevan.

"Journey times may be shorter and definitely safer when the additional skills and defensive driving techniques are applied."

Anyone interested in finding out more about the institute can visit www.iam.org.uk.

Motorists who want to enrol on a course can contact Mrs Bevan on 01874 712267.