Drive carefully - precious cargo on board

[digger]

People need to remember how precious the cargo they carry with them when driving is.

Its not just their passengers but themselves - precious, fragile, so unbelievably fragile and irreplacable.

Yesterday as CFS we went to a vehicle rollover. With us was a young lady who had never responded to a vehicle collision before... (she was incredibly nervous at how she would be, but performed fantastically.)

Everyones best efforts came to the fore, great efforts in medical treatment by paramedics and then doctors and the helicopter extraction team and the teamwork required for us to cut two people still trapped inside the 4wd out whilst still assisting ambos, paramedics and relatives.

All this time the parents and relatives of those involved were at the scene, they stayed away when they had to, they supported their loved ones when they could, they were stoic and examples of how devestating this was to good loving parents/relatives in crisis.

Two people were flown out by helicopter which we directed in and they landed at the site on the road, a straight stretch of bitumin road the driver and family were very familiar with.

Despite the best efforts, one of the people in the car, a teen, merely a child suffered terrible injuries and couldnt be saved, she died at the hospital in Adelaide, and one of the other lads , also just a teen is in a critical condition.

All this then means that the people who have attended, the CFS, the AMBOS, the Police and members of the public who are there to help before emergency services arrive- are sadly scarred by this memory.

All this can be avoided, by using or exercising more care out there. Remember the cargo is irreplacable. Also remember how quickly loved ones can be lost and so no more can or could be said to them... say what you need or want to say now, don't put it off.

Be careful out there.....PLEASE!

[Roverlord off road spares]

It is always sad when this happens, but it doesn't matter how careful you drive there are always other idiots that take chances and play the game only to take others with them.

I've personally experienced it on 2 separate occasions where mine were innocent victims at the wrong place at the wrong time and died as a result of another's actions.

When it happens to you you fell bitter and just want to get out and thump some of these people who drive like idiots and disrespect for other road users.

I have to control myself sometimes after seeing things whilst on the road. They don't know how it has effected me and others.

[mark_coffey]

My father was a St Johns volunteer for 10 years on highway 1 here in mid north South Australia, he copped his fair share of tragedies on the highway. Once he completed his time he served his notice, unfortunately there is a limit to what you can be exposed to and not have long lasting effects. He is a fortunate one who could distance himself from the trauma without bringing it home.
I take my hat off to the everyday people who deal with these traumatic accidents and to the strength of their families to keep coming back for the next one.

[p38arover]

Yesterday as CFS we went to a vehicle rollover.

For those who have a go at and dislike the police, here's a copper who, off duty from the mayhem he sees on the job, continues to volunteer and assist in more of these events.

Good on you, Nigel!



(Yes, I know there are many others on this forum who are in volunteer organisations like the CFS, CFA, RFS, SES, VRA, and St. John and I dips me lid to you all.)

[loneranger]

My dad was in traffic here in Perth in the 70's. He attended a fair few fatalities in his time. He always reckoned the hardest thing was having to go knock on someone's door especially during the night to tell them a loved one had been killed.

[Ausfree]

Thanks Digger, for your reminder about driving carefully, wise words indeed. Being present at an accident like that would be a traumatic experience for all involved.

[ATH]

Whenever I see the "Baby on board" sign in a rear window I quite often think they should add "Idiot behind the wheel".
Maybe some will think that's not a nice thing to say you should drive Perth's roads as a bus or just as an ordinary driver and see the sheer stupidity of some of the things they do with no regard for their "precious" cargo.
I've not much time for our traffic cops and their driving ability, but feel sorry for them and any copper having to knock on doors and give relations the bad news.
Recently there's been stories of women drivers being caught speeding through school zones and when breathe tested found to be well over the limit!
Just yesterday a 15 year old was killed while mum was driving and the list of things she's been charged with is disgusting.
As an old mate of mine, an ex senior inspector used to say, "They'll run over anybody who gets in the way of them getting their kids to school on time".
Keep safe, there's many a loony out there.
AlanH.

[loneranger]

Whenever I see the "Baby on board" sign in a rear window I quite often think they should add "Idiot behind the wheel".
Maybe some will think that's not a nice thing to say you should drive Perth's roads as a bus or just as an ordinary driver and see the sheer stupidity of some of the things they do with no regard for their "precious" cargo.
I've not much time for our traffic cops and their driving ability, but feel sorry for them and any copper having to knock on doors and give relations the bad news.
Recently there's been stories of women drivers being caught speeding through school zones and when breathe tested found to be well over the limit!
Just yesterday a 15 year old was killed while mum was driving and the list of things she's been charged with is disgusting.
As an old mate of mine, an ex senior inspector used to say, "They'll run over anybody who gets in the way of them getting their kids to school on time".
Keep safe, there's many a loony out there.
AlanH.

The standard of driving over here seems to be getting worse as time goes on. We notice a lot of what appears to be a 'I've waited long enough I'm going whether its safe or not' attitude these days.

[BigBlackDog]

Well done to you and your team.
Just before Christmas a young guy coming around our street at home nearly ran into my then very pregnant and little boy as she was reversing out of he driveway. I saw it happening. Lucky for him he didn't stop (visiting his friend who lives next door to me) as I might very well have wrapped my 1/2 in he breaker bar around his face. When he did eventually come back I confronted him and after trying to say it wasn't his fault he conceded he looked down at his phone or something. I tod him nicely he needs to do better than that, if he is lucky next time it will be the side of my defender he hits, if he's unlucky it will be a kid he kills, and that'll ruin his whole life.
I don't like preaching to people but I think there is a general lack of realisation of the serious nature of driving, people don't realise what killing someone else actually means I don't think.

[loanrangie]

Today i saw some the worst , most erratic driving i have ever seen.
Vehicle was a few cars ahead and was swerving from one side to other usually across 3 lanes and i count at least 3 near collisions where other motorists had to swerve and or brake hard to avoid this lunatic.
The driver never used an indicator or stayed in any one lane for more than 5 seconds, unfortunately we werent close enough to get the plate number.
I dont know what goes thru these idiots minds and feel for the service people that have to deal with the after math.

Sent from my GT-I9300 using AULRO mobile app

[Roverlord off road spares]

I regularly see mothers with children as passengers speed through school zones when they are 40kph limited.
I cracked it the other day, the passenger side window was down as I pulled next to the offender at a red light. I gave them a verbal blast, " 70kph through a 40kph school zone.
I said to them "your kids might not go to this school but our local kids do!"
You think parents would know better!

[Disco Muppet]

Thanks for that Digger, as per Ron my hat's off to you!
Sad that people have to die for others to learn or remember.

Baby on board stickers make me angry. It's not my responsibility for you to look after your passengers :censored:

[Eevo]

Baby on board stickers make me angry. It's not my responsibility for you to look after your passengers :censored:

this is a better sticker

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2015/03/904.jpg

[Chops]

Thanks Digger.
A very timely reminder when Easter is just around the corner, and quite a few of us will be doing some big miles.