A MOTORIST is backing calls for traffic calming in a York road, after his parked car was written off by a hit-and-run driver.

Adam Wood said measures such as speed humps should be introduced in Green Lane, Acomb, where some drivers simply drive too fast.

He thinks such steps would probably have saved his Renault Megane from being hit and damaged beyond repair by a passing driver.

He was speaking out in support of calls for traffic calming by heartbroken father Ron Coulson, whose son Ben died after being struck by a hit-and-run driver last year. The driver, Joseph Richardson, was jailed for five years last month.

Mr Coulson said it had been an "accident waiting to happen", and he believed a 20mph zone would have saved his son's life, and might save someone else's.

City of York Council said then that it understood Mr Coulson's point of view, although it did not believe calming would be likely to affect dangerous driving.

It said it had been studying this area of Acomb to see if there was anything it could do to avoid future crashes.

Mr Wood, 23, said he had been in his home in Green Lane on Wednesday when a vehicle had hit the passenger side of his Renault, ripping off a wheel, bending the chassis, damaging panels and popping the windscreen out.

"It's a write-off," he said. "Although I had fully comprehensive insurance, my premiums will go through the roof."

He said he had not seen the accident, but a neighbour had heard the bang and gone out, where he saw a man and a young girl standing near the damaged car before going back to their vehicle and driving away.

The vehicle involved, which had also been damaged, had been a light green or blue in colour, although the make or model was not known. He said he would like to offer a reward for information helping him to track down the driver.

"I support the calls for speed humps," he added.

"If there had been traffic calming, I'd still have my car."

Updated: 08:52 Monday, July 18, 2005