Campaign tackles 'concerning' rise in road deaths

Bethany Branson's family hope her legacy will stop people from driving dangerously

The mother of a young woman killed in a road crash in Bridgwater says she is "devastated" by a rise in road deaths.

Bethany Branson, 19, died in November 2022 when a car she was in was hit by a driver who had run a red light.

Figures from Avon and Somerset Police show 30 people died on Somerset's roads in 2023, up nearly 43 per cent on 2022.

It is the highest number of fatalities in 10 years.

Bethany's mum Amy Branson said: "I know other families are going through what we are going through. I would not wish that knock on the door from the police on anyone.

"It was Mother's Day on Sunday and I went to a cemetery to put a heart on a tree for my daughter. That just shouldn't be the case."

Bethany Branson died at the scene of a crash in November 2022

Ms Branson is working with Avon and Somerset Police on a road safety campaign.

She added: "The campaign is using the car that Bethany was in on the night of the crash, which is going to be really difficult.

"It will be used for training and educating young people."

Avon and Somerset Police say no particular cause or issue is thought to be responsible for the increase in deaths, but 76% of the collisions involve one or more five behaviours.

They are intoxicated driving, careless or inconsiderate driving, excessive speed, mobile phone use or failure to wear a seatbelt.

Head of road policing and road safety at the force, Ch Insp Rob Cheeseman said: "Each of these fatal collisions can involve one of, even a number of, those different factors."

"It is important for us to understand what we can do around engagement and enforcement to try to slow that rise down."

Avon and Somerset Police say 30 people died on Somerset's roads in 2023

Data shows nearly half of last year's road deaths were caused by a vehicle crossing into the path of another one.

Dangerous driving behaviours are also the focus of a new Somerset Council campaign aimed at reducing fatal collisions.

The Fatal Five campaign will highlight the key behaviours which can contribute to serious or fatal collisions.

The council's road safety manager, Nick Cowling said the road deaths figures are concerning.

He added: "Drivers need to think about how they're going to drive, it's the most important thing they're doing at that moment."