THE best friend of crash victim Joanne Cottage is hoping to collect hundreds of signatures to try to improve road safety where the popular teenager died.

Abbie Turner, 17, said she was still recovering from the loss of her best friend and was determined to do something positive in her memory.

Joanne, 17, of Aylesbeare, Shoebury, was killed in a hit-and-run accident in Ness Road, Shoebury, in February. A 54-year-old woman has been arrested and bailed on suspicion of perverting the course of justice and failing to stop after an accident.

Joanne was a popular pupil at Shoebury High School pupil and, since her death, hundreds of tributes have been paid to her on the Echo's website, echo-news.co.uk About 300 people have signed her friend's petition so far. Abbie, also from Shoebury, said: "It is quite a dangerous road and there are junior schools as well a high school nearby.

"A lot of parents and children walk along there and I just feel that I have to do something so that Joanne's death isn't in vain.

"I was Jo's best friend and this is something that I wanted to do in her memory.

"I have to do it because I hate walking along that road so much.

"When I read about the crash in Leigh (which killed 20-year-old Sheri Lawrence), it did bring back what happened to Jo.

"She was such a lovely person and so full of life. She had a fantastic personality and cared about everyone.

"If anybody was feeling left out, then Jo would always try and include them."