YOUNG drivers were today given a chilling warning that they aren't invincible behind the wheel after the death of a 20-year-old 'who lived for his car.'

Motoring organisation The RAC Foundation joined forces with an East Lancashire coroners to remind youngsters that they still have a lot to learn.

Thomas Metcalf died after his Rover Metro collided with an on-coming vehicle and span into a Land Rover Discovery on a blind bend in Pendle Road, Clitheroe.

An inquest heard of the erratic way in which Thomas, of St Peter's Close, Salesbury, was driving his car just seconds before the collision, on March 13 this year. His mother told how she refused to get into a car when he was driving because she didn't think he was safe.

And the hearing was told of a previous accident which resulted in him needing more that 100 stitches in his neck after he pulled out in front of another vehicle.

Recording a verdict of accidental death coroner Michael Singleton said it seemed that Thomas -- known as Tom -- had misjudged the distance between himself and a slower moving vehicle.

He said once he appreciated the danger he was in he applied his brakes and swerved to the right only to find there was oncoming traffic.

And he said: "Unfortunately, for young men in particular, there is this belief that competence is everything," adding that one of the problems is that you can drive with competence but not experience.

A spokesman for the RAC Foundation said: "Especially among young drivers, there seems to be this belief that once you have passed your test you know everything. People continue to learn about driving throughout their lives. "Being careful should always be the priority."

Thomas' mother Susan said her son had passed his driving test when he was 17 and drove at every opportunity.

She said: "He lived in a car culture and life was about what kind of car you had and how fast it would go."

Mrs Metcalf said she would not go in the car with her son because she did not consider him to be a good driver.

"I was with him once when he made a crisp sandwich on his knee while he was driving," said Mrs Metcalf. "I think he did it to frighten me."

In January 2002 Thomas was involved in a crash when he pulled out in front of a large four wheel drive vehicle. He needed 108 stitches in his neck and also suffered a broken shoulder, broken ribs and a collapsed lung.

Eye-witnesses told how shortly before he died, Tom's car sped up close behind another vehicle on the 30mph road, which was being driven by an old school friend, before pulling onto the wrong side of the road as they approached a blind bend.

Blackburn College student Jamie Brown, of Henthorne Place, Clitheroe, told how he had been driving home from college with two friends in his Citroen Saxo. He said he recalled passing the Metro just after they had turned into Pendle Road and then saw it approaching at speed. He screamed out because he thought it was going to run into the back of his car.

Paul Clegg, who was travelling in the opposite direction in a Ford Escort told how he suddenly saw the Metro appear from behind another car and move into his lane.

"It all happened so quickly. I don't think I even had time to brake," said Mr Clegg. "My air bag activated, I felt glass around me and I ended up on the grass verge."

The Land Rover driver, David Newton, said the driver's door side hit the front of his car.

Tom, a former pupil of Ribblesdale High School, died of a head injury.