A father has recalled the terrible moment he was told of his teenage son’s death in a drink-driving incident.

Backing a new road safety campaign, Tony Davison said he had missed 18-year-old son Adrian every day since his death in 2002 as a passenger in car being driven by best friend Nigel Rhodes. The pair died shortly after their Vauxhall Nova went out of control and hit fencing on the A660 Leeds Road, Bramhope just after midnight on November 4.

Mr Rhodes, also 18, was over the drink drive limit.

Now Mr Davison, from Otley, is urging people to reconsider getting behind the wheel of a car when they have been drinking or taking drugs.

“I was woken up at 3.40am by the police knocking at my door – you know it’s not going to be good news,” said Mr Davison, who volunteers for road safety charity, BRAKE.

“Your head’s computing what they’re telling you but it doesn’t feel real. You think you’re in a nightmare and are just waiting to wake up.

“I wouldn’t wish it on anybody else – that knock on the door – that death notice being delivered.

“I actually spoke to Adrian at 11.45pm on November 3 – the accident happened at 12.03am on November 4.

“I got a text from him and I don’t know why but I rang him and spoke to him – I wouldn’t normally have done at that time but something made me pick the phone up. Little did I know that would be the last time I’d speak to him.

“It was a tragic and unnecessary waste of two young lives. I was angry with the driver – who was Adrian’s best friend – but I had no bitterness and no hatred, he was such a nice lad.

“There isn’t a day that hasn’t gone by that I don’t miss him.

“My message to anyone who thinks that drink or drug driving is worth the risk is simple – it’s not. If you kill someone you live with it for the rest of your life.”

Last year 2,404 people were stopped by West Yorkshire Police on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol during December.

A total of 155 either gave positive breath samples or refused or failed to provide a sample, while 989 collisions were reported during this time.

Last weekend officers targeted those who were driving the morning after drinking. Nearly 100 motorists were stopped with only one testing positive for being over the limit.