Her life is busy, demanding and fulfilling – and it changed forever in January 1992 when her 27-year-old son Steven was killed by drunken joyriders. She channelled her grief and anger at the senseless loss of a young life into supporting other people bereaved by road accidents and into campaigning for greater official recognition of their suffering.

With her husband Carroll, of Foxcroft Drive, Rastrick, she founded the charity Scard (Support and Care after Road Death and Injury) and has now taken on the work of another charity Cadd (Campaign Against Drink Driving). Earlier this month her tireless commitment was recognised when she was presented with the Glyn Spalding Award, a national award made by the Road Victims' Trust.

Both Carol and her husband take issue with the use of the term 'accident' to describe road incidents in which people are injured or killed. "In many cases there is nothing accidental about these incidents – they are often caused by error or a lack of attention on the part of drivers. To call them accidents seems to trivialise them. People say things like 'It's only an accident' as if that's an explanation.

"We are not anti-driver and we know that not all incidents are the fault of drivers but we firmly believe that there is work to be done, particularly with young motorists, in improving standards on our roads. I believe that learning to drive safely is as important as learning to read and write

"More than 3,000 people are killed a year on our roads and no-one takes very much notice except the bereaved families. If six jumbo jets crashed each year killing 3,000 people there would be an outrage and I don't suppose it would be considered an accident."

The Whittinghams got involved in campaigning in the immediate aftermath of Steven's death out of a sense of injustice at the way bereaved families were treated.

"Just before Steven died our caravan had been broken into and we had received a call from Victim Support offering advice. But when I rang them after Steven was killed they said that, strictly speaking, they didn't regard me as a victim of crime. I have to say that I regarded myself as a victim of a crime."

In June 1992 the couple left Leeds Crown Court after their son's killers were dealt with almost numb with disbelief at the leniency of the sentence. "If the driver had received five years – instead of three – and been put away for the entire length of the sentence, then we probably would never have gone on to do what we did. It was the sense of injustice that spurred us on."

Scard has its origins in a small group of people who met up after being affected by joyriding to offer each other support.

Carole said: "We met in a cafe, emptied our purses there and then and had enough to pay for a telephone helpline at my home for three months. It has grown from there. I have lain in my bed in the middle of the night listening to a bereaved parent crying because they didn't know who else to turn to.

"Gradually I made contacts in West Yorkshire Police and we put up posters and gave out leaflets. We always felt very strongly that we had to turn an awful experience for our family into something positive. We were the first organisation to offer support specifically to victims of road crashes and their families. People appreciate the fact that we have been through a similar experience to them. Deaths in road crashes are sudden and violent and families are left with an overwhelming sense of disbelief at what has happened."

Carole now travels all over the country leading workshops for schools, youth groups and the armed forces, she attends coroner's courts, inquests and court hearings to support bereaved people and works with police forces to emphasise the safe driving message. She was instrumental in establishing an annual service at Leeds Parish Church, held every November, in memory of the victims of road accidents.

"Before Steven died, if you has asked me to speak to a room full of strangers I would not have been able to do it. Determination helped me overcome my nerves and now I'll bend the ear of anyone who will listen.

"Carroll and I are both 67 and it is getting harder to keep up the momentum.

" I couldn't have done any of it without him and the award is as much for him, and all the other people who gave their support, as it is for me. I feel very flattered that our work has been recognised in such a public way."

Scard – FACTFILE

Steven Whittingham was killed in 1992 by drunken car thieves aged 18 and 13. Both boys were known to the police and were classed as habitual offenders. The older boy was sentenced to three years in youth custody – of which he served 13 months – and the younger boy was not charged.

SCARD was set up in 1999 and is self-funding charity. It was so named because so many families who have lost a loved one feel 'scarred' by their experience. The helpline number is 0845 123 5542.

The Glyn Spalding Award is awarded to individuals who have been outstanding in their support of victims of fatal or serious road collisions.

People nominating Carole for the award praised her "highest standards of professionalism and compassion" and her "tireless work" in support of those affected by fatal and life-changing road collisions.