‘Do you really want to die today?’: Why I want to scream at some drivers

A young driver overtakes me on a winding road with double white lines. I want to scream at him. Days later another driver, reportedly overtaking another, is killed near Rockhampton. I want to scream again but it is too late, writes Mark Furler

Sometimes I just want to roll down my window and scream at drivers: ‘Do you really want to die today’.

The thought comes to me again after a ute driven by a P plater overtakes me on a winding road with double lines.

It just passes in front of me before another car comes around the corner.

I reckon it had about a few seconds to spare.

The driver is being followed by another P plater who then decides I am driving too slow.

I’m doing 80km/h in an 80km/h zone.

I’m not going any faster for the idiot.

The car behind then begins to come even closer, as if to push me into going faster.

My reaction is to softly apply the brakes as I approach another corner and before we enter a 60km zone.

Later he overtakes me on the inside lane of a roundabout before speeding off.

This happened a few days ago.

Photographs of horrendous crash scenes are important in reminding us all to slow down. FILE PHOTO

On Wednesday, news emerges of a double fatality outside of Rockhampton.

As police reveal details, I am both angry and heartbroken for the families of the two killed.

One of the drivers was allegedly overtaking a cattle truck when his vehicle collided with another.

Police described it as a ‘poor decision’.

The crash scene near Duaringa on Wednesday.

That was diplomacy at its best as two families grapple with loss of loved ones.

As pictures later emerge of the burnout vehicle and the other utility, the horror of what happened is revealed in the most dramatic, and confronting way.

The remains of a Mazda 3 travelling east near Duaringa, about 107km from Rockhampton, when it collided with a Toyota HiLux travelling in the opposite direction.

Some slammed us on social media for using the photographs.

I have a much different view.

When my sister in law was killed by a young, speeding, drink-driver more than 20 years ago, our family visited the crumpled remains of her car.

Sure we didn’t need to see it, but we wanted to know what had happened to Karen.

And we were happy for the photo of smashed car to appear as part of the newspaper coverage, along with her photo.

The simple reason is that showing the impact of bad behaviour can be a potent reminder to others on the road.

As editors we make calls every day what our readers are shown.

We see the most graphic of photos that will never see the light of day.

But if one young driver thinks twice about speeding, tailgating, overtaking on double lines, drink driving from our coverage of the aftermath of ‘poor decisions’, then our coverage serves a purpose.