Emma Pritchard
Lovingly arranged in the shape of a heart, 346 hats, each one representing a life that was tragically cut short on NSW roads last year, created a poignant memorial in Grafton’s Market Square on September 11 during a free community event which was held as part of Road Safety Month 2024.
Aimed at raising awareness of the devastating consequences and lifelong afflictions experienced by locals, families, and friends, first responders, emergency services personnel, and NSW Police following traumatic road fatalities, the event also featured interactive and educational displays, giveaways, and informed and compassionate pleas by guest speakers, including those who have lost loved ones in harrowing car crashes, as they pleaded with attendees and the wider Clarence Valley community to stay safe while driving.
Acting Director of Regional Community Partnering for Transport for NSW Brad Crispin said it is up to everyone to step up and make the necessary changes surrounding their driver behaviour as Australia remains committed to addressing the road toll statistics.
“Even one life lost on our roads is one too many,” he said.
“Last year we had 346 deaths on NSW roads, and whilst rural communities make up less than 30 percent of the population, rural people are represented in over 70 percent of crashes on our roads.
“The hats we have on display, which have been donated by Clarence Valley residents, represent the 346 people who are no longer with us.
“One of the key messages we’re using with the hats is to bring to the community’s attention that these are not just statistics, these are people.
“They’re our family members, they’re our friends, they’re our kids, they’re people we know in our communities.
“This event is about coming together and recognising the impacts these crashes have (on everyone), and to ask our local communities to please adjust their driving behaviours on regional roads to help keep us all safe.”
Mr Crispin said of the 346 deaths that occurred on NSW roads in 2023, 266 or 65 percent, included a behavioural factor such as speeding, fatigue, drink driving, or driving under the influence of drugs.
“65 percent of those crashes had a behaviour factor that could have been avoided,” he said.
Mr Crispin said by respecting the speed limit and adjusting your speed in accordance with the current conditions on the road, having a Plan B in place, including a designated driver or safe place to stay if you are drinking, managing fatigue and allowing additional time for rest breaks when travelling long distances, and not allowing yourself to become too complacent when driving along the same stretch of road on a regular basis, we can all help to keep each other safe on the states roads.
Katie Dokmanovic, Events Coordinator with the NSW Road Trauma Support Group, an organisation formed by family members of road trauma victims which provides specialist professional trauma-informed grief counselling, peer support, and long-term care, spoke of the devastation she felt after losing her son Nick in a car crash on Christmas Eve in 2020 during the community event last week.
Standing alongside her was Clarence Valley resident Tania Brown who was instrumental in organising the beautiful and touching display of donated hats in memory of her 14-year-old son and 11-year-old daughter, who tragically passed away in a single vehicle accident near Coutts Crossing in March 2023.
Together, they embraced one another in a show of solidarity and support, and openly implored everyone to please do the right thing, and make the right choices, when getting behind the wheel of a car.