THE mother of a doctor killed in a high-speed crash today begged young drivers to take care on the roads on the anniversary of her daughter's death.

Dr Margaret Davidson, 26, died when Nolan Haworth crashed head-on into her car a year ago today, on the A4260 near Deddington - one of 61 people killed on the county's roads in the past 12 months.

Haworth, 19, of Ribston Close, Banbury, admitted causing Dr Davidson's death by dangerous driving and was jailed for four years in September.

The teenager was driving without a licence, in a borrowed car with no insurance, at the time of the crash.

Dr Davidson's mother Elizabeth, 63, said she was horrified at the number of deaths on Oxfordshire's roads and used the anniversary to appeal to drivers - particularly those who have just passed their test - to take care on the roads, releasing a picture of Haworth's mangled car to hammer home her message.

Mrs Davidson said: "All drivers, including young drivers, need to keep their speed down and drive sensibly.

"I want the picture to be shown to make young people realise that they can hurt themselves and the people in the other car. I don't think they realise how fragile cars and people can be.

"Years ago, when people passed their tests they borrowed their dad's car and knew better than to go rampaging around.

"Now it's a more affluent society, and young people are given cars but they need to take care of themselves and their friends because sometimes it ends in disaster.

"The chap who killed Margaret had no interest in other people's safety or his own but other young people might listen. If they knew the suffering they could cause their parents, they might think twice."

Sixty-eight people died on Oxfordshire's roads in 2006, the worst death toll for 16 years. So far, this year, 11 people have died.

Mrs Davidson added: "I despair at times and I am really shocked at the number of people who have died since Margaret's death.

"These are preventable deaths. Sixty-eight people in 2006 could have been alive today if people had just been a bit more careful.

"Vehicles can be lethal weapons - they are not toys, but unfortunately some young drivers believe they are an extension on a video game when they go out on the roads."

Mrs Davidson said her son Neil would be coming home from London for the anniversary of Margaret's death to spend it with her and her husband Joe.

The family would visit Chatelherault Country Park, near their home in Hamilton, Scotland, where a memorial bench has been placed with a plaque dedicated to her daughter's memory.

Mrs Davidson added: "There isn't a day goes by when I don't cry, and we will never really recover from the pain of what happened to us.

"The anniversary is going to be very difficult and we are just going to have to get through it as a family with the help of our friends.

"Peter Terrington, who was Margaret's fiancé, is also finding it very hard to get past it, and will be staying in Oxford on the day."

On the night she died, Dr Davidson was returning home to Kidlington after working a night shift at The Horton Hospital, Banbury.