The son of an elderly woman who died tragically last year is urging motorists to drive carefully this Christmas.

Audrey Whaley was hit by a car as she walked to her local newsagents on December 23. It had been a journey that the 78 year old had made every day for more than 40 years. She was knocked down on a pedestrian crossing at the junction of Durham Road and Darlington Lane by a driver who could not see through his dirty window.

The driver, Zafar Iqbal, pleaded guilty to the charge of driving without due care and attention at Teesside Magistrates Court on December 2. While prosecuting the 39 year old, Lynne Roberts-Plowman said “His washers were frozen so he had been unable to wash his windscreen. It was dirty but he made no attempt to clean it. He was also blinded by the sunlight but continued to drive.”

The court also heard that Iqbal of Stockton had been driving at a speed of 34mph in a 30mph zone. He was fined £505 and received six penalty points on his licence.

Colin Whaley, Mrs Whaley’s son, claims Mr Iqbal has shown no remorse or regret over the tragedy and urges other drivers to be aware of similar dangers on the roads at this time of year.

Local police and motoring organisation RAC are warning motorists of the dangers of driving in icy conditions and are advising drivers to perform regular checks to their vehicles, making sure the windscreen wipers are not frozen and using a de-icer to remove ice from all windows.