Horror of road crashes revealed
By William Hedley, Year 12, St Augustine’s College
AS more and more people choose to drive anywhere and everywhere, sadly we see an increase in both road accidents and fatalities.
Alarmingly, statistics show that those most at risk on our roads are the newest recruits getting behind the wheel of a car, teenagers.
On August 4, St Augustine’s College Year 12 students were the willing recipients of a powerful presentation from officers of the Cairns Forensic Crash Unit.
Sergeant Scott Ezard and Senior Constable Lee Chamberlain took the boys through the horror of what it is like to be involved in a car accident and also the effects a crash can have on the wider community.
The officers revealed that upwards of a staggering 300 people can be affected by a single death on the road.
This statistic can comprise friends and family, other people injured in the crash as well as the many emergency service officers attending the scene, medical staff in hospitals and any witnesses.
A combination of interactive demonstrations, involving students from the audience were presented, depicting the typical lead up to a crash.
This was followed by videos of grieving families showing the emotion involved in road incidents.
We were subjected to nightmarish pictures of mangled cars, unrecognisable compared to their pre-crash perfection.
This certainly gave the students an understanding of the dangers involved in driving and just how utterly harrowing a death on the road can be.
In so doing, as graphic as the sobering presentation was, it clearly delivered the intended message powerfully and in such a way that it will never be forgotten.
There is no doubt that every single one of boys took something away from the presentation and that it showed us all just how avoidable and preventable many road accidents are.
We were told: “You’re in control of a most dangerous weapon, not only your safety and life but the lives of all other road users are put at risk every time you get behind the wheel of a car.”
It definitely drives home the meaningful message: “Road safety, a modern day necessity”.