Today's post is quite different from all the others I have written since it is of a personal nature.
Below are 2 links. The first is from a local radio station here in Melbourne and contains video of an interview with a young football player and a TV message about road safety.
The second link is a newspaper story about the same young man.
The story is a very serious one. It may upset you.
It is about a young man who was involved a fatal road crash several years ago.
Here in Victoria, in an attempt to reduce the road toll, there has been a series of advertising campaigns designed to shock.
And shock they do!
Neil Mitchell interview with David Hille
The Age newspaper article.
The day that crash happened was my daughter's 13th birthday. At the time I also had 2 sons aged 15 and 17. The 17 year old was about to start learning to drive. I still remember that crash because of the age of the boys involved and the ages of my sons.
Little did I know that less than seven years later my eldest son would be killed on the road.
My reason for this post is to make you aware of the importance of wearing seat belts, and also, even more vitally, the importance of being aware of consequences of choices on the road.
Tell your children.
Road safety is not just a TV advertisement or a billboard, it is up to us.
Give your children an extra hug. There is nothing more precious than our children.
Oh Miriam, my heart goes out to you. I am so shocked by your loss. It must be terribly hard for you but I thank you for putting the word out. Please accept my heartfelt condolences my friend. Elaine in Texas
ReplyDeleteoh I am so sorry to read this post , my heart goes out to you. We talk about driving safety all the time with our girls, any newspaper article about driving with teens gets cut out and discussed
ReplyDeleteas we are driving around I am always pointing out how texting/being on the cell phone these drivers are dangerous...they see them weaving in the lane or driving too slow to compensate being on the phone, they are way too distracted.
I have forwarded your blog links to my DD and friends with teen drivers
thanks
Kathie
It was very brave of you to post about this Miriam and I'm so very saddened by your family's loss. I had a friend who has suffered the same loss and it's so hard to get that message through to the teenagers who think it won't happen to them.
ReplyDeleteMany hugs to your Miriam and you are very brave for telling us all about your son.....its very hard to make the kids realise to drive careful and they just dont think of the ones left behind. (((((Hugs)))))) take care Vicki
ReplyDeleteThinking of you Miriam...thankyou for sharing the links...a very important message to us all.
ReplyDeletethinking of you today Miriam..........I never have to tell the kids to put there seatbelts on it is so automatic for them........I still check most days........you move on but never forget.......extra hugs OOOOOOOO
ReplyDeleteOh Miriam....I am thinking of you as well and like Kathie and the others I do thank you for sharing the links and I'll pass them on to my girls.
ReplyDeleteBig hugs to you my friend.
As with all the above comments, my heart goes out to you Miriam. As a mother of three young adults, I am always telling them to drive safely, don't drink and drive, don't speed and watch out for the other idiots on the road. The latest set of ads from TAC with the family from Geelong, breaks my heart every time I see them and I hope that the message will hit home with our young ones. Take care and thank you for sharing this with us.
ReplyDeleteOh Miriam, my heart aches for you and your family. Thank you for posting this message, I too have forwarded the links to my nieces and nephews.
ReplyDeleteGentle Hugs,
Crispy
Seat Belts save life and that is all there is to it. I lost one brother in a car accident from not wearing a seat belt, another brother only a 1 and a 1/2 years later was paralyzed from the middle of his chest down in another car accident also not wearing his belt -- he lived in a wheel chair for 30 years before he died 4 years ago - he was 21 at the time of his accident. And then only 10 months later the oldest of my great nieces at the age of 19 was in a car accident - she was wearing the lap belt but put the shoulder restraint behind her as she wanted to lay across the seat to sleep while someone else was driving and was in an accident is now a paraplegic paralyzed from the waist down.
ReplyDeleteLearn from these mistakes - we thought we had stressed seat belt use so much to members of our families and still they think "not me". Besides sometimes death serious injury happens also that can change your life forever.
Sorry for your loss Miriam and thanks for bringing this up.
Karen
http://karensquilting.com/blog/
Thanks for sharing this personal post. My heart goes out to you and your family for this incredible loss. In addition to educating children on the importance of wearing seat belts we must also warn them of the danger of talking or texting while driving. Sending you a hug today....
ReplyDeleteMiriam,
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing this ... so important! I get so frustrated when I see young drivers texting and driving. It has been banned here in the city where I live ... thank goodness. Although, I still see it happening.
Thank you for being such a wonderful blogging friend to me. You have helped me more than you will ever know :)
Big Hugs)))
Donna
We have tv ads like that too which are very shocking.
ReplyDeleteMicki
Miriam, thank you for posting that. Making it real. I have told you, before, but let me say, again, how sad I am for you that you lost your son.
ReplyDeleteMiriam, I'm so sorry to hear about the loss of your son, and I think you are very brave to put this message out. The incidence of traffic fatalities in this area is shocking, and it's mostly teenagers. They don't always think of the consequences, but maybe the campaign will make them think.
ReplyDeleteI can't imagine the pain you and your family have been through Miriam, but my heart goes out to you. Thanks for reminding us that road "statistics" are the sons, daughters, husbands and wives of people just like us. Having an 18 year old son who is just starting to think about driving and being in cars with new drivers makes me anxious, and thankful every time I hear the door open late at night.
ReplyDeleteHi -
ReplyDeleteI was so saddened for you and your family when I read your post. As mother's we all feel the worry and concern for our teens and young adults behind the wheel. Your post was a good reminder of driving safety. I'm sending you a big hug-- this must have been a difficult post to write.
From your deep sorrow comes encouragement for others. Thank you for this post.
ReplyDeleteHi Miriam.My heart really goes out to you as I learn of the loss of your dear son..but truly feel that we should be so inspired by you, as you try to reach out to others to spread the message of safety for our loved ones.God Bless...Kate x
ReplyDeleteOh Miriam. I'm so sorry for you and your family -- how heartbreaking. Such a very important message. Thank you for sharing. XOXO.
ReplyDelete