Great Western Coffee Shop

The Police do a speed awareness course for some first time offenders. What about making this part of the driving test process along with a drink awareness course.

Melksham crash leaves man dead and driver critically injured

A teenager was killed and another man critically injured in a two-vehicle crash in Wiltshire.

A Citroen Saxo car and a van crashed at 15:00 GMT on Saturday in Forest Lane, near Melksham.

A 19-year-old man from the local area, who was a passenger in the car, died at the scene.

The driver, 22, from Melksham, is in a critical but stable condition in hospital.

Police appealed for the drivers of two cars which did not stop at the scene to contact them. "Three cars were travelling towards Melksham in close proximity to each other," said PC Peter Williamson, from Wiltshire Police. "When the Saxo was involved in the collision, the other two cars did not stop at the scene. It is imperative that the drivers of the two cars come forward as soon as possible to assist us with our enquiries."

The male driver of the van, 25, from the Trowbridge area, was taken to hospital where he was described as walking wounded, police said.

I often wonder what is the purpose of teaching and minutely examing new drivers' balletic pirouettes like 3-point turns and reversing into gaps while neglecting habits of caution, good manners, conservative driving etc.

I think it may come down to the limited minds of our DfT mandarins and ministers, with which we are only too familiar.

How many young drivers are killed each year backing into parking spaces etc?

OTC

I'm guessing that continual improvements in car design is the main driver for the reduction, with another possibility being the more recent introduction of technology to monitor younger drivers for whom insurance had become unaffordable.

Mourners at a teenager's funeral paid tribute to his favourite item of clothing - by wearing pink polka dot dressing gowns.

Max Lewis, 19, of Melksham in Wiltshire, died when the car driven by his friend Dan Palmer, 22, collided with a van.

His grieving mother Nicola, 50, had asked mourners to wear something that showed her son's 'sense of style'.

(http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/12/05/23C4D79400000578-0-image-a-50_1417797267661.jpg)
Mourners at a funeral for teenager Max Lewis paid tribute to his favourite item of clothing - by wearing pink polka dot dressing gowns

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Grieving friends had been asked to come along to the service wearing something that showed her Max's 'sense of style'

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Max Lewis (pictured), 19, of Melksham in Wiltshire, died when the car driven by his friend Dan Palmer, 22, collided with a van

Dozens of friends donned pink hooded dressing gowns - one of the teenager's trademark outfits - including the pallbearers and even the reverend.

Speaking to the gathering of 450 friends, a tearful Ms Lewis said: 'You always had a strong sense of who you are.

'You were determined, adventurous and playful, funny, mischievous and energetic and very caring. You have left a huge gaping hole in our lives and hearts.'

She added: 'Please young people, try to keep yourselves safe, because it is just too hard to lose you.'

Max was a passenger in a red Citroen Saxo which collided with a white Renault Master van on November 15.

Driver Dan Palmer suffered a punctured lung and broken pelvis and had to undergo extensive surgery following the smash, but is now recovering at home.

(http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/12/05/23C4D82600000578-0-image-a-55_1417797293945.jpg)
Dozens of friends donned pink hooded dressing gowns - one of the teenager's trademark outfits - including the pallbearers and even the reverend

(http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/12/05/23C4D83E00000578-0-image-a-57_1417797303307.jpg)
Locals wearing the pink hooded fleeces and carrying single roses lined the streets approaching St Michael's Church in Melksham before packing out the service

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As well as the dressing gowns mourners wore wristbands which said 'Max Lewis Gone but never forgotten RIP 09/01/1995 - 15/11/2014'

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The ceremony contained hymns and bible readings and ended with Rev Ren^e Coulson donning a matching pink gown before Bob Marley's Three Little Birds was played

Locals wearing the pink hooded fleeces and carrying single roses lined the streets approaching St Michael's Church in Melksham before packing out the service.

As well as the dressing gowns they wore wristbands which said 'Max Lewis Gone but never forgotten RIP 09/01/1995 - 15/11/2014'.

The ceremony contained hymns and bible readings and ended with Rev Ren^e Coulson donning a matching pink gown before Bob Marley's Three Little Birds was played.

Two men - aged 18 and 25 - have been released on bail until January pending further investigations into the car crash.

**sorry about the poor formatting and I don't know how to copy the pictures***

Another fatal crash in/near Westbury claimed 3 more last night, reported on 5Live this morning

Three people have died after a crash between a car and a lorry.

They were in the car when the collision happened on the Quartermaster Road at West Wiltshire Trading Estate in Westbury, Wiltshire, on Friday night.

The road was closed by police for seven hours while they dealt with the accident, which happened at 22:30 GMT.

Three young men have died following a crash at the West Wiltshire Trading Estate in Westbury last night.

The collision was reported to police just before 10.30pm and involved two vehicles.

Three passengers were travelling in a silver Citroen Saxo which hit a blue articulated lorry and the men were pronounced dead at the scene.

It is thought that this 44-tonne lorry was parked.

We are all distraught we were unable to save them, says Wiltshire chief constable

(http://www.gazetteandherald.co.uk/resources/images/3261277.jpg?htype=142&display=1&type=mc2)
Chief Constable Patrick Geenty

Chief Constable Patrick Geenty made an appeal for young drivers to take more care today.

He said: "To all the young drivers in Wiltshire, I am writing to you with a simple plea. As a parent and as a chief constable, please be safe on Wiltshire^s roads.

"In the last few weeks, five young people have been killed in collisions in our county. Many families will not be able to hold their sons, grandsons, friends and relatives this Christmas.

"I am deeply saddened by these deaths. The impact has not only rocked local communities but it has affected my officers who have been on the scene dealing with these tragic incidents.

"Whether a police officer, a paramedic or a fireman, we are all human and return home each day totally distraught that we were unable to save these young men.

"I want to ask all young people to take action ^ be responsible drivers and don^t take any risks with your safety. I urge everyone to take personal responsibility. Ensure your vehicle is roadworthy and you are in a fit and alert condition to drive.

"I ask you to think how you would feel if, as a result of your actions a passenger, a friend, relative or loved one, was seriously killed or injured.

"At this time of the year it is easy to become distracted and feel invincible to the risks and dangers you face on the roads.

"It is a simple request that we can all help with. So I ask all young people in Wiltshire, all parents, relatives and the friends and families who have lost a loved one, to help me in my plea to young drivers to stay safe this Christmas.

"None of us want to see another tragic death on Wiltshire^s roads."

I'd support that limit

I'd support that limit

The breath test gave a reading of 5 (sorry cant remember the units). I actually had a chat with the police officer about how I gave a reading when I hadn't drunk any alcohol for so long. He told me a list of example products with trace element- some of them were unbelievable, and certainly wouldn't contemplate such products containing alcohol.

Bethany Mackie jailed over Christian Smith's death on charity ride

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Christian Smith was on a 24-hour "Kent Epic" fundraising ride

A teenager who killed a cyclist during a charity bike ride has been sentenced to five years in prison.

Bethany Mackie, 18, was more than twice the legal alcohol limit when her car hit Christian Smith, 38, from behind.

He was cycling alongside his wife on the last leg of a 24-hour, 248-mile ride across Kent and Sussex on 22 March.

The father of three was pronounced dead at the scene on the A2990 Old Thanet Way, near Chestfield, Whitstable.

Mackie, of Beltinge Road, Herne Bay, had previously admitted causing death by dangerous driving and driving with excess alcohol.

She was sentenced at Canterbury Crown Court.

The court heard after she crashed into Mr Smith she carried on up the road for 400 metres.

(http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/79848000/png/_79848038_bethanymackie1.png)
Bethany Mackie was more than twice the legal drink-drive limit

A black box device fitted by Mackie's insurance firm to her car revealed she had been driving at up to 76mph on the 60mph road moments before the crash.

Mr Smith's widow Katie Smith read a victim impact statement before the sentencing. She said: "I was alone with him on that road and I tried desperately to save him, but I couldn't. This is something I will always feel guilty for. A short time later I had to wake up my 12, nine and five-year-old to tell them that their daddy was dead.

"The sounds that they made can only be described as horrifying. I have heard that sound many times over the last few months - from my own mouth as well as theirs."

Mr Smith was raising money for the mental health charity Mind. More than ^82,000 has been raised on his JustGiving webpage, eclipsing his ^1,000 target figure.

I also personally do not think that lowering the limit would reduce deaths or accidents; most drivers who have accidents due to alcohol are already (well) over the present limit. A lower limit would simply mean that they would be over the new limit by a greater amount. Only with a progressive change in attitude and driver responsibility will the accident numbers fall.

Two charged over Melksham fatal crash

Two men have been charged with causing death by dangerous driving after a road crash that killed a teenager from Melksham.

Max Lewis, 19, was killed on 15 November, in Forest Lane near Melksham.

Julian Drew, 26, and Connor Forrester, 18, who are both from the local area, have been remanded in custody.

A third man, aged 22, has also been summonsed to court to face a charge of causing death by dangerous driving.

The 22-year-old had been interviewed by detectives but had not been arrested, Wiltshire Police said.

One car, one driver but three charged?

One car, one driver but three charged?

From the BBC (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-wiltshire-30073642):

Melksham crash: Driver guilty of causing Max Lewis' death

The driver of a car that crashed, killing a 19-year-old passenger, has been convicted of causing death by careless or inconsiderate driving.

Max Lewis was a passenger in a Citroen Saxo when it collided with a van near Melksham, in Wiltshire, on 15 November.

Driver, Dan Palmer, 23, from Melksham, pleaded guilty to causing his death at Swindon Crown Court. He was acquitted of causing death by dangerous driving.

He was bailed to return to the court at a later date for sentencing.

Connor Forrester, 19, and Julian Drew, 26, both from Melksham, also faced a charge of causing death by dangerous driving but were acquitted.

Forrester was convicted of dangerous driving and Drew, who was acquitted of dangerous driving, faces a hearing at a later date for offences of disqualified driving.

Following the trial Sgt Barrie Card, from Wiltshire Police, said speed had been a "factor in this collision".

"This incident shows that driving too fast can have tragic consequences," he said. "There was no need for this incident along a quiet country road on a Saturday afternoon."