Driving a car. It is perhaps the most dangerous thing most of us will do any given day. Yet because we do it so regularly, it can be too easy to become complacent.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
This was the sentiment echoed by Road Safety Advisory Council chairman Garry Bailey in response to the latest fatality on Tasmanian roads.
Early Friday morning a 24-year-old man was killed in a two-car crash on the Arthur Highway in the state's South-East. It was the fourth death on Tasmanian roads in less than a fortnight.
Three people were killed in a tragic crash on the Bass Highway near at Carrick on February 26. This week two of the victims, Rodney Rowe and Shane Williamson, will be farewelled by their family and friends.
The community is still reeling from this horror crash. And rightly so.
Because as of Saturday the number of people killed on Tasmanian roads this year is up by more than double compared to the same period last year.
This is a horrible statistic, but we all know the real tragedy of road death tolls go far beyond just a number.
So, as we enter the second day of a long weekend, Tasmania Police have again reminded travellers to be safe on the road. But will people listen?
The actions we make while behind the wheel of a car have the potential to devastate not only our own lives, but the lives of those sharing the road with us. And everyone deserves the chance to get to their destination in one piece.
On a long weekend more people are expected to be out and about - enjoying time with family, friends and making the most of what this great state has to offer.
But despite the warnings, despite the endless road safety campaigns, there will still be drivers who no doubt take unnecessary risks on the road. But for what? Surely the benefit of arriving a bit early doesn't outweigh the risk of speeding, inattention or just sheer recklessness.
So next time you get behind the wheel please think about your driving behaviour and where it could land you, or someone you love.