Fifteen years ago, he ran into the back of a car turning onto a freeway at hundred kilometres per hour. The crash spun the car out of control, into oncoming traffic.

A young motorcyclist travelling towards them hit the car, and was killed.

Mr Walsh told his story at the first Bendigo Community Road Safety Forum on Thursday night. The event was booked out, with more than 100 children and their families attending.

Read more: 'There's been a car accident and it's Carmen, she's gone'

Mr Walsh wasn't drink driving, he wasn't speeding, he wasn't drug driving, he wasn't fatigued.

But a moment's distraction cost the life of a woman.

Mr Walsh pleaded guilty to careless driving. He can remember seeing the woman's family in court. He couldn't look at them.

"If I could take it back, I would," Mr Walsh said.

"It's true forever. The guilt, I can't take it back, I can't fix it.

"The key thing is when you're driving it's a lot of responsibility."

It's been a long time since the crash, but speaking at the event was bringing it all back for Mr Walsh.

But, it was worth it.

"If I can help someone who's going through what I went through, it's worth it," Mr Walsh said.

With a daughter on her P plates and one on her L plates, City of Greater Bendigo Inspector Shane Brundell knows the worries parents have.

And after 32 years policing, he knows the dangers of the road.

Inspector Brundell put the forum forward hoping the personal stories of those who had been involved in road trauma would resonate with people, so they make safer decisions on the roads.

"We know statistically that our probationary license holders ... they are the most vulnerable and at risk drivers on our roads to be at risk of collision," Inspector Brundell said.

The death of his daughter Carmen drives speaker John Maher.

The 18-year-old was killed when she fell asleep at the wheel, driving home to Longlea from Bendigo.

Mr Maher has spent 22 years speaking at schools, sharing the message that everyone must take responsibility for how they use the roads.

"Carmen was the lucky one the day she died ... we faced the most confronting time as a family," Mr Maher said.

"Everyone must understand that they can destroy their families, families break up over things like this.

"I can never cuddle Carmen again, none of us can. That's the biggest thing I miss, is not being able to hold Carmen and tell her I love her."

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