A MUM who has tirelessly fought for people unfit to drive to be taken off the roads after her daughter was tragically killed has backed a charity’s safety campaign.

Colchester student Cassie McCord, 16, was killed when Colin Horsfall’s car swerved onto the pavement and hit her.

Mr Horsfall, 87, died of his injuries three months later.

Police had started the process of having his licence revoked after he was involved in an accident days before the tragedy in 2011 but he refused to give up his licence.

The Gazette supported Cassie’s mother, Jackie, in collecting 46,000 signatures on a petition to change the law.

Cassie’s Law was introduced in 2013 to give police the powers to fast track an application to revoke a motorist’s licence with the DVLA if they believe they are unfit to drive.

Jackie has recently been awarded an MBE for services to road safety, in particular Cassie’s Law.

Now she is supporting national charity Brake during national Road Safety Week.

They are teaming up with Kwik Fit and Specsavers who will offer free vehicle safety checks and tests to check if people’s eyesight is good enough to drive, sharing inspirational stories and asking people to thinking about how they can step up for road safety.

Jackie said: “The pain of losing Cassie will never leave me but it’s important that people hear my story and understand that road crashes aren’t inevitable, or acceptable.

“Getting Cassie’s Law introduced wasn’t easy but it was worth it, as it has helped make our roads safer.

“I encourage everyone to think about how they can help make our roads safer and what they can do to step up for safe streets this Road Safety Week.”

Statistics released by Brake revealed 783 people were killed or serious injured on Essex’s roads last year - the highest number of any county in the region.

There were 27 children hurt on the roads when they were either pedestrians or riding pedal cycles.

Joshua Harris, director of campaigns for Brake said: “These findings paint an alarming picture of the danger on the roads and yet it’s what we’re all exposed to, every day, when getting about.”

“We shouldn’t have to accept this level of risk as part of our daily lives.”