The loss of a son or daughter is a devastating blow, but for parents to know that their child need not have died must be almost too much to bear.

Eighteen-year-old Tanveer Iqab Ali, known as Tanny to his friends, was killed in a smash on the M62 in 2008.

He was a passenger in a car driven by his best friend who was racing another friend when the vehicle hit a lorry.

The two car drivers survived and were jailed for six years each for what was described in court as “tragic, senseless and reprehensible piece of driving”.

In other words, if they had not been behaving in that manner, it is likely that Tanveer would still be with us today.

Faced with such sorrow, it would have been entirely understandable if his family had wished to deal with its grief in private.

But this coming week, his father, Niaz Ali, and sisters will attend the unveiling of a plaque to Tanveer at his former school.

The memorial will commemorate a young man described by his dad as a “brilliant lad, a hero who was very popular”.

But he hopes it will also act as a warning to others – showing ‘boy racers’ the dangers of driving too fast and parents what can happen if they buy their sons powerful cars as soon as they have passed their driving tests.

Mr Ali’s concern for others is a credit to him and his family and a fitting tribute to his boy. His message deserves to be heard.