Hampton Park teenager Danielle Mullins is urging young motorists to slow down after a string of deaths at a Lynbrook intersection. 33403
By Bridget Brady
“Being so young I admit that we don’t know everything. We are babies to the world and babies to the road.”
Hampton Park teenager Danielle Mullins, 17, said it had taken the loss of a close friend to make her realise young drivers were not invincible and they needed to slow down.
After the death of her friend Joel Brimble, 19, in the first of two fatal collisions in two weeks at a Lynbrook intersection, Danielle said her tragic loss had sparked her determination to encourage young drives to take care.
“There are people out there just starting off on the road and they think they know everything. Unfortunately for me it has also taken these lives to make me turn around and see differently,” she said.
“People get in cars and think it’s cool and fun but I ask is it cool and fun to lose a friend?”
Danielle, who also knew Narre Warren South P-12 students Anja Miler and Riyani Lowen, said she and her friends were holding up as well as could be expected.
“I’ve found it very hard. Joel and I were seeing each other like boyfriend and girlfriend but it was never said between us because at the time we thought we had time. Unfortunately, we didn’t. He will always be in my heart.”
Danielle said it was upsetting to see road-side tributes were removed after the second fatal collision.
“That’s some people’s way of grieving. I wrote a letter to Joel and now that’s been taken away.”
Danielle also wrote to her local member of parliament and asked why Casey council’s seven-year-long requests to upgrade the intersection were unsuccessful.
She said it was necessary for all school students to undertake driver education programs at schools to inform young drivers about the dangers of the road.
“I want something put in schools so youths can understand what it’s like and what they are putting at risk.”
