Following the bestreetsmart excursion, the discussion of motorist safety continued back at Thomas Hassall, but this time, it was increasingly personal to our fellow teachers. We were reminded that accidents are not limited to what we see on the news or on our phones, but can happen unexpectedly to those closest to us.
Ms Stewart, a PDHPE teacher, shared her experience regarding her car accident in 2022, which has unfortunately left her with life-altering injuries. She effectively reminded students of how quickly life can change at any moment, regardless of age and road experience. The tragic accident for Ms Stewart was not at the fault of using a mobile phone or drunk driving, but simply fixing the car’s air con, causing the car to drift into passer by traffic and spin uncontrollably. Ms Stewart extends that she is “lucky to be here today,” and that she tries her best to live a normal life despite her continuous back pain, serving as a reminder for students of the importance of undivided attention when driving, as even the smallest distractions can catalyse life-changing accidents.
The discussion continued with a guest speaker, Harvey Weir, a former NSW firefighter and father of PDHPE teacher, Mr Weir. He intentionally reinforced the significance of distractions and their repercussions through talking about his ‘first-responder’ stories, unfortunately as a result of poor decisions made by young drivers. The stories ranged from drunk driving incidents, to a girl simply brushing her hair, both tragically resulted in fatalities. Mr. Harvey strengthened that such devastating endings could’ve been avoided if only more informed decisions were at the frontline of youthful drivers minds. Hence, education around road safety, despite sometimes its repetitive nature, is so crucial to acknowledge and reciprocate as a moment of distraction should never cost anyone their life.
Alexia C
Year 11 Student
