HEREFORDSHIRE drivers are being called upon to make a New Year’s resolution that really counts by making 2010 a safer one on the county’s roads.

Following another year of tragedy on Herefordshire roads in 2009, an appeal has been made to stop the loss of life on the county’s highways.

Two Hereford driving instructors and two bereaved mothers are appealing to motorists to ensure the carnage does not continue by putting the spotlight on the A49.

Instructors Heather Thompson and Craig Preedy are making the appeal, along with Helen Parker and Lyn Ketcher, who lost loved ones last March near Much Birch in one of the worst accidents the county has ever seen.

Mr Preedy also lost two friends, Mark Price and Steve Waring, in an accident on the A49 in July 2008.

He set up a Facebook group to campaign about the road’s danger following the death of Mrs Parker’s 18-year-old daughter, Lauren McCrerie, and Mrs Ketcher’s 16-year-old son, Ryan Vincent, and 20-year-old Neil Smith in March.

“Over the years in Herefordshire we have seen far too many road traffic crashes, serious injury and fatalities,” said Mr Preedy.

“The effect on whole communities when a loved one is taken so abruptly and without warning is devastating, and one that many will never recover from. I know that I haven’t.”

Mr Preedy set up the group – called Stop the Loss of life on the A49 – to campaign against the danger of the road.

“Within six weeks more than 2,000 people had joined this cause and it currently stands at 3,363 members. I think that this demonstrates the strength of feeling amongst many that they want our roads to be safer,” said Mr Preedy, who is also chairman of Hereford Advanced Drivers and Riders.

“Let’s work together to prevent further tragedies in 2010 and make Herefordshire’s roads the safest in the country.”

Mr Preedy said it was difficult to teach youngsters to take the correct approach to driving.

“I endeavour to teach my young learner drivers that they must have the right attitude when driving,”

he said.

“Yet the examples that they see around them being made by socalled experienced and professional drivers are pretty poor.

“It is my belief that many drivers have lost sight of what it means to be patient and courteous when we are behind the wheel.

“We forget about those vulnerable road users such as new drivers, older drivers, pedestrians, motorcyclists and cyclists.

“Our quest to be first in a queue, or quickest to work, or first to pick the kids up from school, sees me witnessing every day on the roads the habitual breaking of the 30mph speed limit, the jumping of red lights, the blocking of box junctions and the use of hand-held mobile phones.”

Mr Preedy has been supported by Mrs Thompson, who has worked with road safety group Time and Place to educate county youngsters about the dangers of driving.

“The Hereford Times has only too often reported yet another serious accident on our local roads involving young people,”

said Mrs Thompson.

“I believe that there will always be a higher percentage of young people involved in accidents.

“Although these young people will all probably know of someone who has been killed or seriously injured on the roads, not one of them will believe that it may happen to them.”

She also urged drivers to have more patience with inexperienced drivers.

“I spend five days a week teaching people to drive, and I am constantly amazed and frustrated by the attitudes of other road users,” said Mrs Thompson.

“Everyone had to learn at some stage and it would be great if other drivers could just give us a little more time and space.

“It’s the responsibility of all road users to drive in such a manner that they are keeping themselves safe but also not causing other road users to brake or take avoiding action.

“Maybe it’s difficult to remember how vulnerable learners can feel when they are first on the public roads.”

Both Mrs Parker and Mrs Ketcher back the Facebook campaign which can be found at apps.facebook.com/causes /242824 “Young drivers think they’re invincible and it will never happen to them but it can. It happens more and more,” said Mrs Ketcher, who lives near Edgar Street in Hereford.

“We are trying to get the message through. We have a responsibility to our young people and we want to stop another family going through this devastation,”

said Mrs Parker.

The two mothers have already played their part in getting the message over about road safety.

Both contributed to the Empty Shoes exhibition in Hereford Cathedral in November.

The exhibition, organised by the Diocese of Hereford and supported by West Mercia Police, displayed the shoes of people killed in road collisions.

Inspector Nick Semper, police commander for Hereford city, said: “This year’s Christmas festivities were the first that many of those loved ones will be absent from, being deeply missed by those closest to them.

“I think that we should all reflect upon that thought, recognise that profound sense of loss and tragedy, and adjust our own driver behaviour accordingly in 2010 and beyond.”