A HUDDERSFIELD MP has backed a campaign to force diabetics to test their blood sugar levels before they get behind the wheel.

Colne Valley MP Jason McCartney has signed the petition after his friend’s brother was killed by a driver who fell into a diabetic coma.

James Pope, 41, brother of BBC Radio Leeds football commentator Adam Pope, was killed in November, 2009, after his car was hit head on by a Transit van.

The fatal smash near Chester happened after roofer Michael Dodd, 19, suffered a hypoglycaemic attack and fell unconscious at the wheel.

Dodd originally pleaded guilty to causing death by driving without due care.

But after a trial last January, he was jailed for three years for the more serious offence of causing death by dangerous driving.

Mr Pope, who lives in Huddersfield, said the problem of diabetic drivers was a “ticking timebomb” and he hoped the law could be changed.

He said: “There’s no law that makes it mandatory for Type 1 diabetics to test their blood sugar levels before driving. There’s only advice from the DVLA and Diabetes UK.

“If it was mandatory they would know whether they were close to a level that would make them dangerous.

“If they don’t test it you’re talking about thousands of people who could have this type of accident.”