Heed the road safety message

She is asking everyone who takes the wheel to value life - not just their own, but others travelling with them, or on the roads around them.

And she is asking those behind the wheel to value the lives of those touched by road trauma. Those whose lives will never be the same.

At this time of year, we often see images of the horror that occurs on our roads - horrific reminders of the need to be responsible.

They are confronting, unsettling and stir emotion. But images don't show the ongoing impact of such tragedies.

Charlotte's story gives us a glimpse into those moments after a loved one is lost in a motor vehicle crash. A tiny window into the tears and heartache of families grieving the loss of loved ones through such an avoidable event.

At the time of the horrific smash in which Charlotte's son Luke, and three others were killed, Victoria Police assistant commissioner Robert Hill said:  "I would say to all parents to go and hug their kids and have the conversation with them about taking responsibility on our roads''.

It's a conversation Charlotte says needs to happen.

“If there is anything to come from this tragedy it is look out for your mates always, be responsible, don’t be a hoon as you will become a statistic for road toll,'' she said.

“The boys made a very bad decision, they made a stupid decision, doing burn outs and this is the result. They died. And two innocent people died.

“Before we were touched by tragedy, we would never have understood what that meant.

“Now, every time you see something bad on the television, another fatality, you feel so much for their families because you have been through that yourself.

“I want every person who gets behind the wheel of a car to know you need to be responsible. You can’t drink and drive. You need to be totally alert. You have to have your wits about you.

“And you need to look after your mates. “Look out for your mates, because I haven’t got my mate now.’’

It's easy to dismiss the message. We hear it year in, year out at the beginning of the festive season.

But as Charlotte says, she didn't realise the importance of heeding the message - until it happened to her. You can be sure there are many other families grieving the loss of loved ones killed on the road this Christmas who never imagined it would happen to them. 

Charlotte's story could be any one of us. Road trauma does not discriminate.

Road safety is our collective responsibility.

So: Rest. Pay attention. Slow down. Don’t drink and drive. If the kids are screaming, stop at a park and let them stretch their legs. It doesn’t matter if you’re late – at least you will arrive safely.

Don’t be quick to dismiss the road safety message, it’s there every year because people die on our roads at this time every year.

MOTHER TELLS OF PAIN OF ROAD TRAUMA