Human beings are fragile and cannot withstand the enormous force of a high-speed vehicle crash.

And even if you survive a crash, you could sustain head injuries that have life-long consequences, Road Safety Advisory Council Chair Jim Cox said.

“No one wants to be a bad driver, and while vehicles are safer now than they’ve ever been, a crash at 70km/h or above will result in serious injury or death,” he said.

“There’s been an evolution in the development of vehicles but the human body is much the same as it was millennia ago.

“We can withstand the forces of falling out of a tree but not coming to a sudden stop in a tonne of metal travelling at 27 metres a second.

“That’s why driving safely and to the conditions is so important. A crash can happen in the second you look down at your mobile phone, are distracted by a conversation you’re having on the phone or when you are going too fast.

“Whatever the reason, a crash can change your life and that of your family and friends forever.”

Mr Cox said concentrating 100 percent on driving 100 percent of the time lessened the risk of crashing.

He urged drivers to drive to the conditions by adjusting speed to suit the road and weather conditions.

Every second a driver doesn’t have their eyes on the road, distance is travelled. By the time the brain registers there’s a danger and acts to avert it, it could be too late

“Speeding is a factor in almost half the fatal and serious injury crashes,” Mr Cox said.

“A speed limit is just that, the maximum speed at which it is safe to travel. But sometimes it may not be safe to travel at that speed.

“If you’re driving to the conditions, you’re more likely to be able to avoid crashing and causing serious injury or worse.

“An acquired brain injury can change a person’s life, and that of their family and friends, forever. They may seem to be healthy but their injury could prevent them from doing the things they enjoy.

“No one thinks their journey is going to end in a crash. But if we drive as though it might, we’ll have a better chance of getting home uninjured.”