THE sister of a teenager who died in a horror crash has spoken out about her terrible loss in a hard hitting DVD.
Tamsin Cook, 18, from Chester, recorded her story for road safety chiefs in the hope that it will prevent other families suffering like hers.
The DVD is being highlighted as Brake, the national road safety charity, has chosen the theme ‘Too young to die’ for road safety week which takes place from November 21.
Tamsin’s brother Tristan and his friend Dominic, both 16, were killed in a car crash on the A41 near Dragonhall, Chester, in 2006 when the driver of the car they were travelling in lost control.
She speaks openly of the effect this has had on her family over the past five years.
Tamsin said: “I want something positive to come out of the tragic loss of my brother and hope that my message will encourage young drivers to not take risks and always drive safely and responsibly, so others don’t have to experience the trauma of losing a loved one.”
Road crashes are the biggest killer of young people. In 2009, 11 young people were killed and 125 more seriously injured every week in Great Britain.
Very often crashes that kill young people and other road users are due to speed, overtaking dangerously, drink and drugs, and not wearing seat belts.
The recording of Tamsin’s story is being used by Cheshire West and Chester Council’s (CWaC) safe and sustainable travel team when delivering 2young2die presentations across the district to coincide with road safety week.
The first of the presentations will be delivered at Bishop Heber High School, Malpas, followed by others at Abbey Gate College and Christleton High School.
Cllr Lynn Riley, executive member for community and environment, said: “Tamsin is passionate about preventing any further loss of young people on our roads. Her bravery during the recording of her family’s story was outstanding.
“The message she gives is powerful and sends a clear message that passengers should not put their lives at risk on any journey. Tamsin agreed to do the recording because she wants something positive to come out of the tragic loss of her brother and hopes that through her message she can compel young drivers and passengers not to take risks on the road and thereby avoid the heartbreak her family is experiencing.”
Young drivers are involved in a huge proportion of road casualties, due to a combination of inexperience and a tendency of many young people to take risks.
One in eight licence holders in Britain is under 25, yet one in four fatal and serious injury crashes involves a driver in this age group.
Katie Shephard, director at the charity Brake, said: “Every day, more families face the unbearable news that a loved one has been killed suddenly and violently, or suffered horrific injury, in young driver crashes.