The Walloon Road Safety Agency is launching its new campaign entitled “It doesn’t just happen to others”. And to embody this campaign, the floor was given to road victims. In Wallonia, 200 people are injured or killed every week on the roads.
They thought nothing could happen to them. And yet the lives of these people have been completely turned upside down by accidents. If these three victims are speaking out today, it is to raise awareness and save lives.
Martin lost control of his car on February 11, 2017. He was 20 years old when he had this serious accident. He had drunk too much, today he regrets, because he keeps heavy sequelae, in particular on the level of the brain: “It’s not just the hospital, there are the aftermath. That’s hard too, you shouldn’t believe. I want everyone to be well and that no one has an accident, so do take care of yourself, I beg of you”.
If at least I can make our experience benefit other people
Rose-Marie lost her 36-year-old son just over four years ago. He was hit by a drunk and speeding driver. “He smashed it, he made a frontal and he disappeared suddenly”.
“Really, it doesn’t just happen to others. We know that Joachim is no longer there, that he won’t be back, but he’s here with us every day anyway. If at least I can do it so that our experience benefits other people”, testified Rose-Marie. An accident involves a whole entourage, that’s Rose-Marie’s message.
Caroline is 59 years old. In 2020, she was hit by a truck on a sidewalk: “It really ruined my life, it’s a world that is collapsing”. Three years later, Karine is still suffering from her accident, but she is gradually rebuilding: “I have perpetual pain, 24 hours a day. Me, I have scars everywhere. Whether we only have one arm, we only have one leg, we are human beings”she confided.
There are aids to rebuild after an accident, that’s Carine’s message. Free aid offered in particular by the Walloon Agency for Road Safety.