Shane Stevens was driving home to Lucas with his two young sons when he suddenly lost control of his 4WD and collided head-on into a tree with a sickening thud on March 12.

Trapped in the front seat with a severely injured leg, Shane panicked because he could only hear one son behind him - the youngest had fallen silent. 

"I yelled out Maxy, and suddenly he piped up. Then I looked to my right and there was a guy standing outside who said he'd rung triple-0,” he said.

“I nearly killed my kids – that’s a reality. I’m lucky that didn’t happen, we’ll all make a full recovery. But others are not so lucky.”

Four weeks on Shane remains under care at St. John of God Hospital and has made an emotional thank-you to emergency services who rescued his family.

But the issue of what do to along the Avenue of Honour has flared once again, with many in Ballarat at odds over whether to move the trees, erect a barrier or reduce speed limits. 

There have been two deaths and four cases of serious injuries along the road in the past five years, VicRoads data shows.

"Remembrance Drive was the main thoroughfare from Melbourne to Adelaide for ever and a day and there was accidents,” Shane said.

"It's not a major thoroughfare anymore and there's still accidents."

It comes after VicRoads started an investigation into what safety improvements could be made to Remembrance Drive following a spate of serious accidents.

However, it remains a sensitive issue given the Avenue of Honour’s link to Ballarat veterans and also its beauty.

VicRoads regional director Ewen Nevett revealed a possible speed limit reduction to 80km/h has been considered.

Regardless, Shane is on the mend and has made mates with fellow St. John patient Geoff Lovel, who injured his back in Warracknabeal.

"The effect he's had on me mentally is unbelievable. I think he should be a bloody psychologist,” Geoff said.

But Shane reserved special praise for emergency services who came to his family's aid.

"One of the ambos contacted my wife and asked how the kids were, because he had kids himself," he said.

"I may never see them again, but they're the unsung heroes of every accident."