A mother whose son was killed by a drink-driver has urged motorists not to even have one drink before getting behind the wheel this Christmas and New Year.

Jane Evason

Jane Evason said she still found it hard to talk about the death of 19-year-old Gareth, but is prepared to tell his story to demonstrate the destructive effects of driving after consuming alcohol.

Her family was devastated on May 3, 1998, when Gareth was knocked down and killed by a friend he had been drinking with that evening.

The tragedy turned her into a passionate campaigner against drinking and driving. She is the secretary of Campaign Against Drink-Driving, a national charity which strives to drum up publicity and offer help and advice to victims.

Mrs Evason, of Evenlode Close, Grove, near Wantage, has a simple, stark message for anyone who thinks they are safe to drive after alcohol: "Don't even drink one pint, because one will lead to another.

"Please don't do it. I would still have my son today if his friend hadn't been drinking and driving.

"No-one knows until it happens to them the impact it has on family, friends and relatives.

"My husband finds it very difficult still. I find it very difficult -- but I am able to talk about it.

"Our other son Neil can't say his brother's name."

Gareth was killed in East Challow by his friend Mark Snewin, then 18, who was two-and-a-half-times over the legal limit. Snewin was sentenced to four years at a young offenders' institute after pleading guilty to causing death by dangerous driving while under the influence of alcohol. He is now free.

Meanwhile, Mrs Evason and her family are haunted by the fact Gareth has been taken from them.

Mrs Evason fondly remembers him as an outgoing teenager, the "life and soul of everybody's party", who enjoyed music and socialising. He was at Abingdon College studying leisure and tourism.

"Gareth loved life and would have loved to have been here now. Instead, he's lying in the ground," she said.

Mrs Evason's message came as a survey showed that seven out of 10 people wanted to see the drink-drive legal limit lowered. The Government, however, has announced it has no plans to lower the limit.

The road safety charity Brake, which carried out the survey with insurers Direct Line, wants the limit to be reduced from 80mg of alcohol per 100 ml of blood to 50mg, as in most of Europe.

This proposal was backed by Mrs Evason, who recognised the effect of a drink-drive tragedy on the emergency services as well the victim's family.

"The police are the ones who have to come to knock on your door, and that will remain with them for the rest of their lives," she said.

"The two traffic officers who came to knock on our door are good friends. They wouldn't be friends of ours unless Gareth had died."

The emergency services see first-hand the effects of people driving while intoxicated.

Oxfordshire paramedic Richard Sharpey said members of the ambulance service were sometimes left deeply distressed by road accidents.

"During an incident you don't have time to take account of any emotional effect it's going to have later," he said.

This week, it was announced that a Thames Valley Police scheme to offer up to £500 rewards for people who inform on drink-drivers would be extended to the rest of Britain.

Supt Neil Olney, head of Thames Valley's traffic department, warned: "If you drink and drive, you are a menace to yourself and to other road users.

"There's a very strong chance you are going to be caught."

Anyone who has information about people who drink and drive can ring Crimestoppers free and in confidence on 0800 555111.