HOPES of introducing 'Bethany's Law' - a new road safety law for novice drivers - moved a step closer this week with a formal request for tighter controls on newly-qualified motorists.

West Somerset coroner Michael Rose used special legal powers to call on the Government to force new drivers to cut their speeds in the wake of the death of Williton teenager Bethany Paige Adams.

Care worker Bethany suffered fatal injuries after a car driven by her 17-year-old boyfriend hit a tree and rolled over at the bottom of Halsway Hill on the A358 a year ago this month.

The driver later accepted he could have been driving at up to 80mph in the seconds before the crash and admitted causing her death by driving without due care and attention.

He had passed his driving test just four months earlier.

Mr Rose said he had been unable to discover national statistics for the number of accidents which were caused by newly-qualified drivers.

But he had obtained statistics for accidents involving 17 to 23-year-old drivers which clearly showed a large number of fatal and serious accidents.

He said that in itself was enough to enable him to make a formal request to the Government calling for all newly-qualified drivers to to be limited to 50mph on roads with a maximum speed limit of 60mph, and to 60mph on motorways, for their first 12 months behind the wheel.

He has also called for new drivers to have to display a sign notifying other motorists of their novice status and for the automatic levying of six penalty points and a driving ban for the breach of any driving laws in their first year of driving.

Mr Rose said: "I held an inquest into the death of Bethany Paige Adams, a 17-year-old girl who was killed near Williton when the car in which she was a passenger and driven by a 17-year-old recently qualified driver, went out of control. The accident being caused by excessive speed.

"It is hoped the Minister will accept my recommendations which, in themselves are not revolutionary, but merely bring in restrictions that are already in place in a number of advanced nations."

Bethany's mother Helen welcomed the move and said she remained hopeful the Government would adopt Mr Rose's suggestions - and that the new rules could be named after her daughter as a lasting tribute.

She told the Free Press: "I don't think we will ever stop all accidents like the one Bethany was involved in, but if we can help prevent some then it will be worth it.

"Laws like this work in other countries so I don't see why we can't have them over here.

"There will always be people who think they won't get caught if they speed or they won't get hurt in an accident, but if they had to display something by law to let other people know they were newly-qualified then that could make a big difference."

Mrs Adams, husband Mark and Bethany's sister Danielle have been busy working with local police to launch a road safety campaign for young people.

They want to ensure young, inexperienced drivers are aware of the consequences of their actions and the family is keen to take their message directly in to local schools and colleges.

Later this month they will be giving a talk to young apprentices from the airline Flybe at Exeter Airport through a road safety initiative run by Devon and Cornwall Constabulary.

"If we can talk to kids and just one goes away and takes note, then that's one person who will be safer on the road," said Mrs Adams.

"We will be writing to the Government to support Mr Rose and all we can do is keep our fingers crossed that they listen.

"The more support and publicity we can get for this, the better."