By LACHLAN MOORHEAD
Sue Grady understands the devastating consequences of road fatalities as well as anyone – in 2008 she lost her father in a car crash on the Mornington Peninsula while her mother was seriously injured in the same accident.
Ms Grady was one of many who signed up to last week’s Fatality Free Friday (FFF), sponsored by Caltex, a community initiative to keep the road toll to zero on the Mornington Peninsula on Friday 31 May.
Sue visited the Caltex South East Depot in Dandenong to support the initiative, along with cyclist Adam Glanville and motorcyclist and Stop Smidsy road safety ambassador Bronwyn Sorensen.
“You can’t explain the hurt of losing someone you love in such avoidable circumstances such as a car crash, but you can explain to others the importance of taking extra care on the roads, so Fatality Free Friday is a concept I support,” Sue said.
“It’s a great initiative to make people aware and I hope it can reduce the amount of accidents.”
FFF is strongly supported by Maurice Blackburn Lawyers and Canda Glanville, a road trauma lawyer in the firm’s Frankston office.
The firm encouraged its 750 staff nationwide to sign up to the campaign and they all played a role in keeping the roads safe on Friday.
Ms Glanville, who represented Ms Grady and her mother after the accident, said we need to look out for each other on the roads whether it is cars, bikes, trucks or pedestrians that we use.
“Through my work I see the shocking effects of road trauma on crash victims, their families, and their friends, and I think Fatality Free Friday is a sensational national cause that everyone should take part in,” she said.
“As a road trauma lawyer, it’s actually heartbreaking having to help people piece their lives back together.”
Ms Grady warned drivers to be more aware of their surroundings and never assume they won’t be affected by road fatalities.
“I always used to see those ’I’ve been touched by the road toll’ bumper stickers on cars and I always used to feel awful for them and say ’thank goodness that’s not me’,” Ms Grady said.
“Don’t ever assume it can’t happen to you; take control of it not happening to you.
“Everyone has a responsibility.”
People can join FFF by visiting www.fatalityfreefriday.com and signing the pledge.
“It’s as easy as that, I encourage every single firm to sign up,” Ms Glanville said.
“We want to reduce the road to toll and aim for zero.”
