SOME 550 students benefitted from an advanced course in driving in memory of Lydbrook teen Leanne Davies.

Pupils aged 16-19 at Gloucestershire College’s Five Acres campus, near Coleford, took part in a ‘Drive for Life’ course to learn about safe driving and the consequences of driving recklessly. It began with an emotional speech from the mother of Leanne Davies who was killed in a car crash in 2013.

The course was organised by Gloucestershire’s Road Safety Partnership which is made up of the county’s fire and rescue service (GFRS), Gloucestershire County Council, Gloucestershire Constabulary and the Police and Crime Commissioner Martin Surl who opened the event.

Almost 100 per cent of the students said they were now more aware of the risks around speeding and recognised the need to be a responsible driver, and would recommend the course to future years.

Mr Surl said: “These are very encouraging results, though it’s disappointing there appears to be a small percentage who still don’t get it.

“We have to keep hammering home the message as every analysis tells us that young, male drivers are among the most vulnerable and that young women passengers are most at risk when they are being driven by boyfriends.

“We have to keep trying to reverse that trend by explaining the reality to this age group.”

Following Leanne’s death, her family set up Leanne’s Gift – a charity which seeks to raise awareness of road safety in the Forest of Dean and provides financial support to the families of young people killed in collisions.

Her mum, Heather said: “It is encouraging to see that so many students have recognised the importance of safe driving and makes all the hard work of organising events like these worthwhile.

“It was the first time I had spoken to an audience about what happened to Leanne. I did it because we must all strive to not only continue to improve the way in which we drive every day, but also to accept the responsibility that we all have when we take to the road.

“We will never get over what happened to Leanne and I never ever want any of them to put their families through the pain that we have had to deal with.”