Road crash deaths have lasting impacts on families

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RIDE, National Day of Remembrance for Road Crash Victims, ChathamRachelle Mattsson, left, and Chatham-Kent police Const. Kristen Charron, display signs promoting safe driving during a National Day of Remembrance for Road Crash Victims, held Wednesday. Ellwood Shreve/Postmedia

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It’s been more than a year since Rachelle Mattsson’s mother died from injuries in a hit-and-run and more families have suffered the loss of loved ones in motor vehicle crashes since then.

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Article content Mattsson’s mother Wendy Clark was struck by a vehicle in downtown Ridgetown on Oct.

19, 2022 and died of her injuries two days later while in hospital. Article content

Not letting her mother die in vain is what motivates Mattsson to raise awareness about unsafe driving through a National Day of Remembrance for Road Crash Victims, held recently in Chatham. She said drivers have one job while behind the wheel of a vehicle — to drive safely. “Daily we hear news of accidents, most of which were completely preventable,” Mattsson said. “Please think about your actions behind the wheel as we all know too well accidents can happen to any of us.”

The event also coincided with the kick-off of the Chatham-Kent Police Service Festive RIDE (reduce impaired driving everywhere) campaign. Advertisement 3 Story continues below

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Kristen Charron said of the 17 major collisions that have been investigated by the traffic management unit so far this year, “impairment by drugs or alcohol was a known factor in six of them.” “Of these six collisions, they resulted in the deaths of eight people,” she said. Mattsson said these are more than statistics to her.

“These are real lives cut short and the impact these collisions have on families and victims are immeasurable,” she said. “Individuals, families and communities must live with unbearable loss or suffering of their loved ones,” she said. Chaouki Hamka, regional director for Ontario West with Mothers Against Drunk Driving Canada, believes the term accident shouldn’t be used, because they are crashes.

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Article content Impaired or distracted driving, he said is “a choice that somebody makes that puts the lives of others at risk. “Driving is a privilege and way too many people are making bad decisions on our roadways,” he said.

The year is not over yet, and Chatham-Kent police have already made 105 impaired driving arrests, including 33 that involved motor vehicle collisions. This is nearing the 110 impaired driving arrests made in 2022 that involved 51 crashes. Last year also saw local police investigate 20 major crashes, including 12 fatal collisions, with six involving impaired drivers leading to nine deaths.

Charron says it is disheartening to see these kinds of statistics with all the education campaigns about impaired driving and enforcement efforts that take place. Advertisement 5 Story continues below

This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content She said police see some drivers who have blood-alcohol concentrations three to four times the legal limit involved in fatal crashes that don’t even realize at the time what they have done to someone else.

“Those are the worst ones that we see,” Charron said. She said police and community partners such as MADD try to promote road safety and educate people the best they can. While the Festive RIDE program, involving eight scheduled events has begun, Charron said officers will also randomly decide to do a RIDE program while on shift, especially during this time of year where they know people are more likely to be drinking.

Hamka said RIDE programs are an amazing tool to combat impaired driving. “Without RIDE programs, there wouldn’t be too much deterrence.” He called the criminal justice system a “disappointment” where too many people get away too easy when it comes to impaired driving.

“People really need to understand the severity of impaired driving and how it really affects society.” Mattsson said taking action to remember road crash victims has been part of her grief and healing process. She said she vowed to bring awareness to this issue while her mother was still in hospital following her crash.

“Remembering those affected by road crashes serves as a stark reminder to be a safe and responsible driver,” she said. Article content Share this article in your social network

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