Peter Jennings’ parents start petition for mandatory drug testing after son’s fatal accident

Grief stricken parents, who lost their son in a car crash last year, are on a quest to ensure their son didn’t ‘die for nothing’ as they call for mandatory drug testing for serious accidents.

Grief-stricken parents, whose son died in a car crash last year, have demanded change after their deceased son’s body was subject to mandatory drug testing but the drink driver of the other vehicle involved was not.

Karl and Debbie Jennings’ were left devastated after losing their 29-year-old son, Peter, in a road accident when a drink driver failed to give way at an intersection at Gladstone St, Toowoomba in June, 2021.

Supplied Editorial Peter Jennings was killed in a tragic roadside accident in June 2021

Sadly, Peter left behind a six-year-old child.

The tragic loss of their son has led to Mr and Mrs Jennings starting a petition, which calls for all drivers involved in a serious or fatal accident to be subject to mandatory drug testing.

The petition has more than 703 signatures since it was created on May 18.

“It is not mandatory in Queensland to test all parties involved, it is at the discretion of the attending police, yet the deceased have no choice,” the petition read said.

“Peter lost his rights the minute he died, he was tested for everything including drugs,” Mr Jennings said.

“This driver was never ever drug tested.”

Mr and Mrs Jennings disclosed at the time of the accident, their son was not obeying road laws and his autopsy revealed he had dangerous drugs in his system.

“Pete was 50 per cent to blame. He had drugs in his system, he was speeding,” Mr Jennings said.

“We’ve got to live with that knowledge.”

Mr and Mrs Jennings said the reason behind the petition was to prevent other parents from going through what they have by instigating ‘Pete’s Law’.

“We want the law changed,” Mr Jennings said

“You can’t have one half of the story.”

The couple have argued the fact a combination of drugs and alcohol provide a harsher effect on a person’s body when mixed.

“If you have smoked marijuana at the same time you’ve had a beer, it can increase the combined effect by up to 48 times,” Mr Jennings said.

“I support the reason for this petition and believe the deceased need a voice,” Rianne Cooper, who signed the petition, said.

A group of people, who signed the petition, agreed the law should be instigated in Queensland.

“This is why we started the petition. Were going to keep going, we’re going to get louder,” Mr Jennings said.

“We’ve already been pushing our local member of parliament, so we’re just going to push out publicity until we get some action.”

Mrs Jennings said that they want their grandchild to see that his father did not die for nothing.

“We want him to look back and see that his dad didn’t die for nothing,” she said.

The law has already been passed in New South Wales but failed to be implemented in Queensland.

“The law needs to be changed to ensure justice for the deceased is served.Should the law not be changed, the true state of all parties is not presented to the court,” the petition said.