A TEENAGER has beaten off competition from more than 8,000 youngsters to win a free car after pledging to drive more safely.

Imogen Day, 18, of Latchingdon, made the pledge as part of the Safer Essex Roads Partnership's (SERP) campaign called My Small Change.

The year-long campaign informed young drivers about the main hazards that they will face on the roads and ways in which they could reduce their risk.

They were invited to make a pledge to improve an aspect of their driving to make them safer.

The ‘My Small Change’ Ford Fiesta has toured Essex's high streets and colleges over the past year, proving to be an eye-catching way of getting the message across and being the grand prize to one lucky pledger.

Imogen, who studies Health and Social Care at South Essex College, was the lucky teenager who was drawn out at random this month to win the car after pledging never to use her phone whilst driving.

She said: “I’m so happy I've won the car – I’ve got my driving test coming up so I have my fingers crossed I’ll be driving it soon.

“I can't live without my phone normally, but this competition opened my eyes to the dangers of using a mobile phone at the wheel.

"I would never do it and I'd always advise my friends not to either."

Nicola Foster, Chairman of the Safer Essex Roads Partnership, said: “I am so pleased for Imogen, and all new drivers, as they get their first car and the independence that this brings.

“However, driving also brings great responsibility and a duty to look out for everyone else using the roads. It’s lovely to see so many young people making pledges and thinking about how they can stay safe on the roads.”