Mum urges drivers to think

THE mother of a young man killed in a high-speed crash near Bendigo has warned other drivers to think of their family and friends when they get behind the wheel of a motor vehicle.Ben Robinson was killed in a car accident on the Huntly-Fosterville Road at Huntly on November 5, 2009.Police believe he lost control of his car after hitting a kangaroo. At 4.30 in the morning, 40 kilometres an hour over the speed limit and with alcohol in his system, police believe Mr Robinson had no chance of survival. The vehicle slammed into a tree; he died on impact.His mother Karen Robinson yesterday spoke at the launch of Victoria Police’s regional road toll strategy.“My biggest fear as Ben’s mum was that Ben was taking too many chances and that his luck would run out,’’ Mrs Robinson said.“I remember saying to Ben that if he didn’t rethink his driving that one day I would be facing a police officer at our front door telling me Ben had been killed in an accident.“Little did I know that this statement would become fact.’’Victoria Police has launched the regional road strategy after a 13 per cent increase in deaths on country roads last year.Police say speed and fatigue is the biggest challenge and they will change the way they patrol regional roads to gain the attention of drivers.They will test more drivers for alcohol and drugs.Six people have been killed on central Victorian roads this year.“I’ve come to understand since the death of my son that road safety education and road trauma awareness are critical factors in keeping drivers alive on our roads,’’ Mrs Robinson said.“Taking unnecessary risks on the road is like playing Russian roulette with your life.“Think about your driver behaviour before you get behind the wheel of your car and ask yourself are you going to cause the death or serious injury of another road user; are you going to be your family’s road trauma story; are you going to end up like Ben, my son?“Our lives have changed forever and our lives are poorer without Ben.“It’s a gruesome reminder that continued driver risk-taking can end in death or serious injury.’’