Safety curbs urged after Porsche sales trip tragedy

Tony Heath reports on demands for a code of practice for test- driving high-performance cars after three died in a head-on crash

Road safety experts called for tighter controls on the test-driving of high-performance cars yesterday after three people died in a crash involving a 140mph Porsche Carrera.

The accident happened on Sunday at Llyswen, near Brecon, Powys, when the Porsche, from a hotel-based sales promotion, collided head-on with a Renault 4. Both vehicles were engulfed in a fireball which prevented firefighters from rescuing the occupants.

The two occupants of the Porsche, who both died, have not been named but police said one was a potential customer and the other a demonstrator. They were unable to tell which of the two men was driving.

The driver of the Renault Karen Dalley, 22, was assistant manager at Llangoed Hall hotel, where the weekend Porsche promotion was being held. Ms Dalley was returning to the hotel after visiting relatives in Kidderminster.

The accident occurred within a mile of the hotel entrance. The road, the A470 linking south and north wales, was blocked for six hours. The crash was on a straight stretch with a slight bend where there have been several accidents in recent years.

Police said yesterday that dental records were being consulted to assist identification of the Porsche's occupants.

The vehicle, which sells for about pounds 60,000, was owned by the Cardiff dealers Merlin (Cambria) Limited where staff said they were deeply shocked yesterday. The wife, son and daughter-in-law of the potential customer were waiting at the hotel for him to return. Gareth Pugh, the hotel manager, said: "This is an absolute tragedy."

Road safety experts united in calls for a code of practice to be drawn up to ensure that sales trips in high-performance cars are made safer.

David Roberts, road safety adviser to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, said that he would not comment in detail on the accident until all the facts had been established. But he added: "In principle we believe there should be strict checks on the suitability of anyone getting behind the wheel of such vehicles."

There was a possibility that some people would take advantage of the chance to drive a high-speed car simply to be able to say they had done so. "Ideally they should have successfully completed an advanced driving test," Mr Roberts said.

A call for a ban on the promotional driving of high speed cars on public roads came from James Tye, director of the British Safety Council. "I myself test drove a Maclaren capable of more than 200 mph last week - but that was on a circuit owned by the Ministry of Defence in Surrey," he said.

The Ministry of Transport said that a code of practice would be welcomed by interested parties. "Any sensible measure that enhances road safety is obviously a benefit," a spokesman said.

Police inquiries, which will concentrate on the speed of the two vehicles and prevailing road conditions, are expected to take several days to complete.