A MOTHER whose two-year-old son was one of eight people killed in a horror car crash has backed Government plans to quadruple fines for speeding motorists.

Tracey Mohabir’s son, Marcus, was killed along with two of her close friends in the two-car crash on the A23 near Pyecombe on May 16, 2004.

Her husband, Steve, who was the sole survivor of the collision, held their dying son’s hand as rescue teams battled to free them.

The mum, who now lives in Surrey, said: “In the 10 years since the crash, Steve and I have tried to move on.

“But I still think constantly about the day we lost Marcus and our friends Toby and Kate.

“We have since had another child, Max, who has grown up without ever having known his brother. He often asks about him.

“Many other families have lost loved ones on our motorways and dual carriageways since we lost Marcus, often as a result of people driving too fast and too close to other vehicles.

“Driving over the speed limit has become a habit for many people, and it’s a habit we have to break to prevent yet more needless deaths and injuries.”

The Government announcement will give magistrates greater powers to punish speeders.

Justice Minister Jeremy Wright said: “Magistrates are the cornerstone of our justice system and these changes will provide them with greater powers to deal with the day-to-day offences that impact their local communities.”

The proposals are part of a range of new sentencing powers. Those driving too quickly on the motorway could be fined a maximum of £10,000 – up from £2,500.

However, motoring groups have criticised the increase.

AA president Edmund King said: “For the vast majority of drivers, the prospect of the existing £2,500 fine is a pretty good deterrent against excessive speeding on the motorway. We would not condone excessive speeding in any way but fines have to be proportionate to the offence and one has to question whether increasing the fines four-fold is proportionate, and it probably is not.”