Mum’s call for drink drive zero tolerance

12:00pm Thursday 7th August 2008

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THE mother of an Urmston woman tragically killed by a drink driver has called for a zero-tolerance policy to discourage similar incidents.

Helen Evans’ daughter Katie died aged 21 in October 2004 when the car she was a passenger in collided with a tree following a night out.

The driver, Lee Evans, then aged 23, was over the legal alcohol limit and was sentenced to five years in jail for causing death by dangerous driving.

Helen, from Shawe Hall Avenue, said: “I’d like there to be zero-tolerance. If you intend to drink any alcohol then you should not be allowed to drive at all. If you are driving just avoid drinking altogether.”

The devastated mother has now pledged support for Brake, a road safety charity, in urging the Government to examine and lower alcohol limits for drivers.

Helen added “We were hearbroken to lose Katie in such tragic and unnecessary circumstances. I find it hard to believe that someone could be so irresponsible as to drink and drive when the dangers are so clear. Hopefully people will learn from the suffering these actions have caused and we will see an end to drink driving once and for all.”

Research by Brake and Green Flag, a recovery service, showed 59 per cent of male and 42 per cent of female drivers got behind the wheel after drinking with the gap closing between men and women.

Brake fears the problem rests with confusion over how much is safe to drink.

The limit in this country is set at 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood compared to 50mg in the majority of the EU.

The Government has promised a consultation paper but has yet to announce its publication date.