Survivors: Janet and Noel Southern.
JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
MOTORISTS must look beyond the death toll to understand the true scale of vehicle accidents, according to the region’s peak community road safety body.
Roadsafe Barwon chairman Rod Bennett said the hidden toll of injured and maimed drivers and passengers was a huge cost to the community.
“The road toll that everyone talks about is mainly centred on the death toll, as this is high-impact-type news,” Mr Bennett said.
“There is, however, the hidden toll; those drivers, passengers and other road users who are also victims.
“These are the people who are permanently injured and maimed as a result of others’ careless or bad behaviour. These are the people who have to endure a lifetime of loss of lifestyle and ability to lead a normal life.
“But it’s not only the people who directly suffer from accidents; it’s also the families, friends and workmates who share the pain of changed life circumstances.”
Mr Bennett backed the Independent’s Shattered Lives campaign to promote road safety through stories on the hidden road toll of injury.
“While the cost of road trauma is often quoted as being in the billions of dollars each year, these figures do not include the hidden costs to the community of supporting a person who is injured in an accident and who carries the scars of that accident for life.”
Mr Bennett said RoadSafe Barwon was trying to change dangerous driving behaviours.
“By taking more care and driving responsibly, we can all avoid the additional costs and burdens of road trauma.
“It only takes a split second to change a person’s life forever.
“It might be someone you know next time.”
