HAVING three members of your family hit by a speeding, drunk driver is anyone’s worst nightmare.
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Chris Mair’s mother and aunt were killed in just such an accident that also injured her sister.
Cases such as this will help educate people at a road safety forum next month.
Ms Mair is now well practised at talking about the horrific accident, and she has seen the effect her testimony has on the people charged with driving offences she speaks to each month.
“They start to realise that the 249 people (who died on Victorian roads last year) are people, they’re not just a number,” she said. “And it’s not just the people, it’s all those around them that are affected.”
The road safety forum, organised by Road Trauma Support Services Victoria (RTSSV), will hear from emergency services members and two people involved in serious accidents.
One man will talk about an accident that saw him become a paraplegic at 18, and another person will speak about her own dangerous driving.
Lorraine Yeomans from RTSSV said the organisation didn’t employ shock tactics to convince people to drive safely, but appealed to their sensible side.
She said younger drivers would especially benefit from the forum. “Anybody can come along and learn something, and really think about their driving, but it’s particularly useful for learners and P-platers and their parents and carers.”
alex.hamer@fairfaxmedia.com.au
AT A GLANCE
WHAT: Community Road Safety Forum
WHEN: 7pm to 9pm, Tuesday, May 5
WHERE: Tech Park Central Theatre, Federation University SMB Campus, Lydiard Street South
