THE mother of a teenager who died in a car crash last year is backing an award-winning road safety initiative for young drivers.

Tracey Barnett, 16, of Thornley, County Durham, was in the back of a friend's car when it went out of control at speed and hit a wall. He had only recently passed his test.

The youngster, who was planning to study hairdressing at college, was not wearing a seatbelt and was thrown from the car, suffering serious head injuries.

The driver, Liam Toye, 17, of Shinwell Crescent, Thornley, admitted causing death by dangerous driving and was sent to a young offender's institution for three years and given a five-year driving ban.

Yesterday, Tracey's mother, Barbara, 38, visited Durham Police's annual Wise Drive - Drive for Life initiative, which aims to warn 15 and 16-year-olds of the dangers they face when they pass their test and take to the road.

Tracey's tragedy is being used during the week-long initiative at the force headquarters in Durham City to warn the youngsters of the dangers of driving.

Mrs Barnett said: "I was asked and I said 'Yes' straight away. I think it is a really good thing to do to get the children here and show them what could happen.

"I would tell them to realise a car is not a toy. It is a dangerous thing and can kill people."

Mrs Barnett said that girl passengers needed to learn that they can stand up for themselves and demand that a driver drive more slowly or safely.

During the sessions, youngsters learn the devastation that a car crash can have on the victims and their family, see firefighters cutting people out of a wreck and go out with a police driver in a car on the skid pan.

PC Dave Nixon, the force's road casualty reduction officer, said: "The biggest single cause of death in girls under 20 is young male drivers.

"We believe this initiative has been very successful. We keep details on every person who has attended the event and, as yet, we have had only two turn up on the casualty lists out of the 6,500 or 7,000 who have attended."