14/03/2026
Another tragic message in 🥹
🚗 Killed by a Young Driver a Day After Passing His Test 🚗
Eighteen year old Simon Evans was described by those who knew him as a gentle giant. He was loved deeply by his family and friends. He was hardworking, kind natured and full of potential. His whole life was ahead of him.
On the night of 14 March 2025, everything changed.
Simon’s family were woken by their eldest son who told them that Simon had been involved in a crash. He had been a passenger in a car driven by one of his friends. One of Simon’s friends and the friend’s mother were already standing outside their home waiting.
His parents hurriedly got dressed and immediately checked Simon’s phone location. The location pin appeared to be moving, which gave them hope. They repeatedly tried to call him but there was no answer.
They drove toward the location as quickly as they could.
As they approached the area they were stopped by police officers. No information was given. Two ambulances drove past them and for a brief moment hope filled them. They believed the ambulances were heading to help Simon and that they would soon be asked to follow.
But the ambulances did not stop.
The police asked them to move to a nearby pub car park.
It was there that Simon’s parents were told the words no parent ever expects to hear. They were informed that Simon had died instantly.
In that moment their world collapsed.
Simon’s mother later described collapsing when she heard the news. The shock, the disbelief and the pain were overwhelming.
During the inquest the family learned something that would haunt them forever.
Simon had recorded a short conversation on his phone. In the recording he can be heard asking the driver to slow down.
He was ignored.
Sixty seconds later the car crashed and Simon was killed.
Since that night, his parents say life has never been the same. Every day feels unreal, as if they are living outside of their own lives. The grief has never faded.
Simon should still be here. He should be living his life, enjoying his future and chasing the opportunities that were waiting for him.
Instead there is an empty chair that will remain empty forever.
His mother has said that half of her died that night. She is not the same person she once was.
The crash happened on a March night in Shropshire when the car Simon was travelling in left the road and struck a tree at high speed.
The driver had passed his driving test just the day before.
Three teenagers lost their lives in the collision.
A fourth passenger survived but was left with life changing injuries.
All of them were wearing seatbelts.
Investigators later confirmed that the young driver had switched off the vehicle’s traction control system and was driving far beyond safe limits. The actions were later described as naïve, but those actions ended three young lives before they had even begun.
Simon’s parents, Dave and Sue Evans, have since chosen to speak publicly about their loss. They have done so with incredible courage, hoping that sharing Simon’s story might prevent another family from experiencing the same devastation.
They live every day with the absence of their son.
The silence where his laughter used to be.
The empty seat at the table.
The future that never happened.
Every young life lost on our roads is one too many.
For young drivers reading this, there is something important you must understand.
Passing your driving test does not make you an expert driver. It simply means you have demonstrated the minimum standard required to drive on your own. The real learning begins after you pass.
Your driving licence is not a trophy. It is a responsibility.
Speed might feel exciting in the moment. Friends in the car might encourage you to push limits. The car might feel powerful and capable. Modern vehicles with traction control, stability systems and advanced braking can give a dangerous illusion that the car will save you.
Physics does not care about confidence.
Switching off safety systems, driving beyond your ability, or trying to impress friends can turn a normal road into a fatal one in seconds.
Simon even asked the driver to slow down.
One minute later he was gone.
Young drivers must remember something very simple.
No passenger should ever feel afraid in your car.
No moment of showing off is worth a lifetime of grief for families.
No speed is worth a funeral.
Stick to the principles you were taught while learning to drive. Respect the limits of the road, the limits of the vehicle and the limits of your own experience.
Because “passing the test” does not mean you are ready for everything.
You are still learning.
Drive like it.
Thank you to Simon’s parents for allowing me to share their beloved son’s story in the hope that it may save lives.
I cannot even begin to comprehend the depth of the grief they carry every single day.
Thank you also to every parent who trusts me to share these tragic stories so that awareness can spread and perhaps one day prevent another family from experiencing the same heartbreak.
Stories like this are incredibly difficult to read and even harder to rewrite. Every time I sit down to share one of these tragedies it weighs heavily on my heart.
These posts are not written for sympathy. They are written for awareness.
If you are a driving instructor reading this, I would be grateful if you could share these stories so they travel far and wide and reach the people who truly need to read them.
Sheena Ahmed
Motorvation School of Motoring
