Shattered: Leanne, Jai and Norm Robinson.
JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
BANNOCKBURN’S Norm Robinson is in no doubt about the effectiveness of speed cameras.
“The only people who worry about speed cameras are those who get caught,” the road safety campaigner declared.
Norm was thrust into the road safety spotlight after losing his son Luke in a high-speed collision at Lovely Banks last year.
Luke’s family, friends and emergency services workers who attended the accident participated in a TAC advertising campaign called The Ripple Effect.
“What we want to do is change attitudes toward speeding,” Norm said.
“It doesn’t matter if it’s one kilometre or 10, you’re still over the speed limit.
“A lot of people don’t think its breaking the law. If there’s been an assault the community wants punishment but when it comes to speeding many don’t accept the fine.
“Speed cameras are there to change the driver’s mindset.”
Norm regularly visits schools and football clubs to share his pain, all the greater last weekend during his second Father’s Day without Luke.
“It’s an emotional roller coaster every day but the milestone days have ten-fold the emotional impact,” Norm said.
“It was Luke’s first accident and, ironically, he was known as the nanny driver – he was always the designated driver.
“I get to speak to a lot of people through what I do now. You try anyway you can to get the message through.
“Education and awareness-raising is what we’re about; giving young people the tools to make right decisions
“If Luke had been through something like that he may not have made that stupid decision to speed.
“I think we’re getting the message through to some of them, we’re making some sort of a difference.
“We try to think of what might have worked on Luke.”
Norm said a speeding fine could act as a warning, particularly to a young driver.
“One idea we had was to have every P-plater who received a speeding ticket write a letter to mum and dad explaining why.
“I know some will say we run into privacy issues but this is just between parents and child.
“Instead of hiding the fact we’ve got to break the attitude of trying to keep it quiet.
“Young drivers need to be able to speak to their parents about this and understand the consequences we face every day.”
