A dad who lost his daughter to road trauma is pleading with drivers to pause and think, as the spotlight falls on National Road Safety Week.Peter Fraser founded the group Safer Australian Roads And Highways after losing his 23-year-old daughter, Sarah, in 2012.
He said everyone has the right to get home to their loved ones.
“I got brought into this space because my beautiful daughter had broken down on the Hume highway 11 years ago,” Mr Fraser said.
“She was horrifically killed because of distraction.”
Member for Bellarine Alison Marchant is currently chairing a parliamentary inquiry into the impact of road safety behaviours on vulnerable road users, with a particular focus on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
She said the pandemic had changed how Victorians use the road.
“More people are driving, walking or cycling rather than using public transport, and more people are working from home, shifting traffic patterns.”
Ms Marchant encouraged people from the Geelong region to have their say on ways of improving behaviours on the state’s roads.
“I’d encourage all road users to have their say, and they can find (details of) that inquiry being conducted on the parliamentary web site.”
Mr Fraser said it was time drivers began looking after each other.
“At the end of the day we’re all individually responsible for what happens.
“I ask people to make a pact: I’ll look after your family, and you look after mine.”
Picture: Peter Fraser started Safer Australian Roads And Highways (SARAH) following the death of his daughter Sarah in 2012 (supplied)