Toowoomba woman urges greater care on the roads this Easter

Wendy Adams is not looking forward to Easter. The Spinal Education Awareness Team (SEAT) presenter, from Withcott, has spent the past nine years informing and inspiring children at schools throughout the Darling Downs region to be safe, especially on the roads.

“The Easter holiday period is traditionally a time when there is a great deal of tragedy on our roads,” she said.

“It’s horrible to see how many lives are lost and for those injured, how their lives change so dramatically, not just for the individuals but for their families and friends, too.

“Every time we visit a school, we try and encourage the children to consider and evaluate risks, and adjust their behaviour accordingly.

“So I would like to encourage everyone to do just that these Easter holidays.

“Easter is a high risk time given the increased number of people on the roads so people need to adjust their behaviour. They need to make sure they wear seat belts, don’t get into a car with someone who has been drinking or taking drugs, don’t speed or drive when they’re tired or have had anything to drink, and on bicycles and motorbikes, always wear a helmet.

“I wish more adults would listen to these lessons; maybe they would set a better example for young people just starting to drive.”

Wendy is one of 14 SEAT presenters, who all have paraplegia or quadriplegia, who aim to share powerful safety messages with 80,000 children at primary and secondary schools around Queensland this year.

To date, nearly 24,000 children have seen or are booked to view the program, that is coordinated by the Spinal Injuries Association and this year celebrates 21 years of service to the community.

“In a nutshell, we want to help stop spinal cord injuries in Queensland,” Wendy said.

“Currently, around 90 people a year sustain a spinal cord injury, or one person every four days on average, and 40% of these are through road trauma.

“The age group most at risk is between 15 and 30, so at secondary schools we don’t pull any punches. It’s important to get through to the kids that while a spinal cord injury doesn’t mean the end of the world, it also means a great deal of adjustment, frustration and learning to accept that your life will never be the same again.

“I would like to encourage everyone on the roads this Easter to take a moment to think about the 40 people or so who will have paraplegia or quadriplegia this year as a result of accidents on the roads.

“Hopefully this Easter will see people showing greater respect for one another and taking greater care while driving.”

Issued 18 March 2008.