THE parents of a teenager tragically killed by a drink driver in Bridgwater two years ago today are urging drivers to ‘think’ ahead of Road Safety Week. 

Bethany Branson was 19 years old when her life was cut short on the evening of November 8, 2022. A Ford transit van driven by a drunk driver skipped a red light on the A38 Taunton Road and collided with two cars – the first of which Bethany was a passenger in.

The driver was jailed for 10 years for death by dangerous driving and failing to provide a specimen.

On the second anniversary of Bethany’s death, parents Amy and Ben Branson are calling for drivers to ‘think’ before getting behind the wheel of a vehicle.

According to the latest data available from the Department for Transport, there were 47 fatalities on roads in the Avon and Somerset Police force area in 2023.  

Amy Branson, Bethany’s mother, said: “We don’t want Beth to just be a statistic, as it’s a life lost and we want to keep her memory alive. As the judge said at the sentencing, Bethany was ‘destined for a life of giving’. Road Safety Week this year is all about the devastating toll of road crashes and the impact on a family and friends.”

“It has a knock-on effect. Beth wasn’t just our daughter, she was a friend, a colleague, a granddaughter, and a loving sister. She would speak with anyone. All these branches are affected, impacting those around her too.”

The crash occurred just half-a-mile from the family home. Amy commented: “You don’t expect it to happen on roads in your hometown. I still can’t drive down the road where the crash happened.”

Despite the unimaginable aftermath the family has endured, they have raised more than £30,000 and hold a memorial rugby match each year in Bridgwater. The family are determined not to let the loss define them, but to use it to remember Bethany.

Amy and Ben would like to see the law strengthened for drink driving offences, along with parents taking responsibility and have a meaningful conversation with teenagers learning to drive.

Amy said: “No parent should ever have to go through what we have. Getting a knock at the door in the middle of the night to say ‘your daughter’s been killed’ rips your whole world apart. There’s a whole roll of emotions, as the coroner comes around, and then you have to decide where you want to have your child buried.”

The family have been supported by “wonderful” liaison officers, who helped them navigate the complex legal and justice system. Bethany’s case was treated as a driving offence under UK law, something which Ben says “shouldn’t just be a driving offence, as Bethany lost her life. If it had been manslaughter, the outcome would be different.”

Amy added: “In 2029, the person who caused Beth’s death will be out of prison. And every day, we’re one step closer to knowing he’ll be free to live his life again, when we will never get Bethany back. The law should be tougher where someone has made a decision to drink drive.”

Amy ended: “It’s so easy to think that you can do 34mph in a 30 zone, or 55mph in a 50 zone, but the consequences can be totally devastating. Drivers need to think before getting behind the wheel.”

Road Safety Week takes place on November 17 to 23, 2024. This year focuses on the devastating impact of road crashes on everyone involved.