A TERRIBLE case that played out its final chapter in Bathurst District Court this week should do more to convince young drivers of their responsibilities than any number of education programs.
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A 21-year-old man has been jailed for five months after a crash on the outskirts of Bathurst that has left one of his best mates with catastrophic injuries and facing a long battle to even walk again.
They were among the six occupants of the dual cab ute that crashed after hitting a guard rail and concrete culvert, and the victim – along with one other passenger – was thrown from the tray of the ute where they had been laying unrestrained.
The ute had earlier been seen swerving from side to side and crossing into the oncoming lane, a clear danger to other road users as well.
The six young men – six young mates – had been to an 18th birthday celebration together before deciding to drive into Bathurst to continue partying at a local hotel.
They piled into the ute in the early hours of the morning to make their way back home to Blayney.
They never made it.
These are the facts that were presented to the court and the court has made its decision on the appropriate sentence for the driver.
Five months will not seem long for those of us who continue with our daily lives between now and next March, but could seem an eternity for a young man who, the court heard, “will struggle more than most” in jail.
But the young mate who suffered permanent injuries that night will be paying the price for much, much longer.
This is a story that must be related to every teenager as they prepare to get behind the wheel for the first time.
It is a story about the consequences of bad decisions and how a night out with mates can go so catastrophically wrong so very quickly.
A young man described by the court as being of otherwise good character is in jail today as a result of his bad decision and another is permanently injured.
It can happen to anyone when the potent mix of alcohol and youth is involved. Young men feel bullet-proof, but they aren’t.
Please, make your sons and daughters read the details of this case. Make them know that driving is a privilege, not a right, and that the decisions they make can have a lifelong impact on themselves and others.
Too many lives have been changed. Let’s stop this happening again.
