The Amber Community is calling on road users to reflect on their attitudes and actions ahead of another busy Christmas on the roads.
In Hume, 30 people have died in crashes since 2019, while another 1093 were seriously injured between 2019-2023, according to figures from the TAC.
Further north, in Whittlesea, 33 people died in the same period, with those seriously injured amounting to 859.
The Amber Community is a not-for-profit organisation that provides counselling to those affected by road trauma and aims to prevent further road trauma through education.
Amber Community spokesperson Kim McAliney said that many deaths and life-altering injuries come from a motoring culture that needs to change.
“We live in a culture in which we tend to accept people dying on the roads. Many people think it has happened forever … and will keep happening,” she said.
“As a result, many people let their friends drive when drunk, and let their mates use phones while driving. We don’t have a culture of calling out choices which could kill or injure. We must call it out!”
While Christmas should be a time of joy, for those affected by deaths and injuries on the road, it can be one of pain and mourning.
Alcohol and drug use, parties and celebrations, and people losing patience amid traffic congestion are just a few things that make the holiday season a high-risk period on the roads.
While the Amber Community hosts a series of educational events and facilitates group communication, the conversation about road safety ultimately starts with oneself.
“Ninety-five per cent of car crashes are due to the choices people are making, such as choosing to speed, choosing to text and choosing to drive when drowsy,” Ms McAliney said.
“People only need to ask “Could it happen to me?”
The Amber Community is always looking for people to share their stories of experiencing road trauma or volunteer their time and resources.
Details: https://ambercommunity.org.au/
