Learning from tragedy Safety film to adjust attitudes
TOOWOOMBA fire fighters will feature in a state-wide safety video urging young drivers to take care on the road, the first of its kind in 11 years.
The Road Attitudes and Action Planning video is aimed at reducing the number of crashrelated injuries and deaths of people aged 17-24.
A Toowoomba traffic accident that left one dead will feature in the video. It will be used to demonstrate the effect crashes have on a wide range of community members, including family, friends and first responders.
The film’s director Mandy Lake, who was involved in the filming the first video in Warwick 12 years ago, said the subject matter was difficult but held an important message.
“You come away (from filming) and you have a good cry, the incident was very traumatic,” Ms Lake said.
“Just because (the incident) happened a few years ago doesn’t lessen the impact, it might as well have been last week - the ripple effect is still ongoing, it’s as raw as it was.
“Every year around 30,000 eye balls get to see this film and hopefully one of those sets may change their behaviour after seeing this film.”
Kitchener Station Senior Fire Fighter Douglas Maxwell, a first responder at the crash, was one of the people involved in the filming.
“The RAAP program is delivered at Year 11 level across the whole state and the premise behind that is we are trying to influence driving behaviours prior to kids taking the wheel,” Mr Maxwell said.
“We have fire-fighters here who are friends of the family, we have people speaking who were involved in the first response and we also have fire fighters who were involved in the peer support program that helps other fire fighters deal with road traumas.”
Video production started at the end of last week, with the film due to be released at the end of the year.