Crash victims to receive counselling and support under NSW Labor promise

The heartbroken families of people killed in road crashes could finally receive the same support as those killed in violent crimes, under a Labor election pledge.

They are the casualties of crime overlooked by the system, but now the heartbroken families of people killed in car crashes could finally receive the same support as those of murder victims.

If elected, a NSW Labor government would extend victim support counselling services to the families of a person killed as a result of a criminal act.

Twenty-two hours of free counselling is available to families of a homicide victim, but road fatalities are excluded as they are not categorised as a “violent crime”.

A Labor government would also appoint an independent advocate for all victims of crime.

Labor’s promise comes after the Saturday Telegraph revealed the disparity between how criminal drivers are treated by the legal system and that families who lost loved ones in car crashes were pushing for tougher sentencing laws in NSW.

Tom Daher, whose father Tannous was killed by drugged driver. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

The Road Trauma Support Group, founded by Tom Daher after his father Tannous was killed by a drugged driver, said families like his could finally be recognised under the proposed policy.

“The death of a loved one due to a criminal act on NSW roads and the support desperately needed should not be considered any different to the loss of a loved one by other means,” he said.

“Currently, the families of victims killed by a driver convicted of dangerous driving are not eligible for counselling. Criminal acts resulting in the death of another person be it by a gun, a fist, a knife or a car should all be treated as manslaughter or murder.”

Tannous was a father of five and grandfather of 20 who, at 83, had been married for 60 years.

Tannous Daher, 83, who was killed when an out of control truck mounted a footpath and struck him while he was gardening in a front yard.

In July 2017, he was gardening with his brother-in-law in his ­Merrylands front yard when suspended truck driver Moustaffa Zreika crossed onto the wrong side of the road and ploughed into the two men as they were working on the footpath.

Zreika was found guilty of one count of dangerous driving occasioning death and dan­gerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm. On appeal his sentence of six years jail, eligible for parole after four years, was reduced to a non-parole period of three years, eight months.

The Road Trauma Support Group is calling for a parliamentary review of road crime legislation, including reform of “outdated” sentencing and the introduction of “victim impact panels” to help drunk and drugged driving offenders recognise the lasting effects of substance-impaired driving on the families of victims.