DRIVE to the conditions and take breaks while driving, even if you don’t think you need them.

Those are the sage words of advice to drivers from Cooma Monaro State Emergency Services member, Torquil Wilson.

With 25 years’ experience in the SES, Mr Wilson has seen the affects of what happens when people don’t drive safely. His message to take care on the roads came during National Road Safety Week and ahead of the SES’s WOW - Wear Orange Wednesday - on 21 May.

Mr Wilson is well qualified to speak out. He knows what he is talking about because he has seen the tragic effects of what can happen when people don’t drive safely.

As a member of the SES since he was just 16-years-old, he has seen death and serious injury up close. Felt the fear as he worked with his team to free trapped drivers and passengers from car wrecks.

His take home from that is his call to drivers - including himself - to drive to the conditions and take breaks.

“I was always taught to drive to the conditions, but it is very easy to see how quickly things can go wrong,” he said.

“Please, if you are driving, stop, revive, survive. Take a break.

“The number of times I’ve stopped four times on the way back to Cooma from Queanbeyan to take a break. I would rather get home late than have my mates pull me out of a car.

“If you don’t think you need a break, stop anyway. Get out and stretch your legs.

“Some of the fatals I have been to have been fatigue- related. People have fallen asleep behind a wheel and ploughed into another car. It is so easy just to pull over and have a walk around or a nap.”

With winter bringing ice and snow to the region’s roads and many visitors not having experience driving in snowy conditions, Mr Wilson’s warnings could not come at a better time.

According to the Safer Australian Roads and Highways (SARAH) Group, which promotes National Road Safety Week each year with road safety organisations and government, around 1200 people are killed and another 40,000 plus are seriously injured on Australian roads.

“Traffic injury is the biggest killer of Australian children under 15 and the second-biggest killer of all Australians aged between 15 and 24,” an organisation spokesman said.

“These numbers are growing every year but are preventable if we choose to Drive So Others Survive!”

As Mr Wilson has seen first hand, so many accidents can be avoided if drivers do the right thing when they are behind the wheel.

During National Road Safety Week, drivers have been asked to make an online pledge on the website https://roadsafetyweek.com.au/ to:

* drive as if my loved ones are on the road ahead;

* remove all distractions and never use my mobile phone while driving;

* not put other people at risk by speeding, driving while tired or under the influence of alcohol/drugs; and

* protect all vulnerable road users, especially those whose job places them in harm’s way, by slowing down and giving them the space they need to be safe.

While the State Emergency Services is mandated to be in charge of storm, tsunami and flood events, its volunteer members are regularly called by police and other organisations to assist road accidents where people are trapped and also takes part in search and rescue operations.

People have the chance to show appreciation for volunteers like Mr Wilson on Wear Orange Wednesday.

This year, WOW Day takes place during National Volunteer Week (19–25 May) – a week that recognises the contribution of volunteers from all walks of life.

For Mr Wilson, volunteering has never been something he did for thanks.

More, just because he “knew I wanted to do it from when I was a kid.”

“Growing up in Victoria, where SES does road crash rescue across the State outside metro Melbourne, I saw them doing a demonstration cutting up a car at a show and as soon as I was 16 I joined and basically gave up Scouts and Venturers to join the SES as they were on the same night.”

He originally joined Bega but transferred to Cooma Monaro 23 years ago and is a general land rescue operator, which requires completion of courses in urban rescue, road crash rescue and industrial and domestic rescue.

“RCR is what we do most of. I am also a storm damage operator.”

Mr Wilson works in Canberra as a system controller for Essential Energy but still has a home in Cooma and spends a lot of time driving, with careful attention to taking breaks.

“I have a really good team I work with.

“To be able to get out and help people on the worst day of their lives.

“Come out on a Tuesday night and say hello. You might find you want to join.

“We are always happy to welcome new members and show you around.

“Rescue isn’t for everyone, but you can do other things other than rescue.”