YOUNG motorists are today being warned to drive safely after a speeding car narrowly avoided mowing down a crowd of football fans.

YOUNG motorists are today being warned to drive safely after a speeding car narrowly avoided mowing down a crowd of football fans.

Drivers under 30 are currently being targeted in a new campaign For My Girlfriend (FMG), backed by road safety professionals, which aims to remind them about the potentially catastrophic consequences when things go wrong while they are behind the wheel.

This comes as a tragedy was fortunately averted on Saturday night when a car lost control as several coach-loads of Ipswich Town football fans, who were returning from their defeat at Stamford Bridge, were alighting in Constantine Road.

According to eyewitnesses, there were about 25 coaches, dispensing 1,500 people, when a car being chased by another one zoomed passed.

A concerned onlooker, who did not wished to be named, said: “We saw a car travelling at speed along Constantine Road with another car chasing it. The car being chased lost control and mounted a pavement on the side of the bus stop near the crowd of people.

“If there were people on that spot they could have been mowed down. It was shocking that despite all the people standing there, it meant nothing to those drivers.”

Inspector Trevor Sharman of Suffolk Police's serious collision investigation team, said: “Suffolk Police encourage all drivers to drive appropriately to the prevailing road and weather conditions.

“Anyone who witnesses inconsiderate or careless driving are urged to obtain as much information as possible, including vehicle index, make, model, colour and description of the occupants and date, time and location of the incident and to report it to Suffolk Police on 01473 613500, Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 or 999 if appropriate.”

In 2003 figures showed that younger drivers (under 30) were twice as likely to be the driver at fault in an accident. However in 2007 this trend reversed and statistics showed that less young people were involved in accidents than before.

The annual FMG young driver campaign, supported by road safety teams across the region including the one at Suffolk County Council, are supporting the campaign which is launched this week in the run-up to Valentine's Day.

What could be done to prevent young drivers causing accidents? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk.