A widow’s request for everyone behind the wheel of a car, after losing her husband

She has just lost her husband — the father of her three children — and Catherine Frewer has one request for everyone behind the wheel.

Cameron Frewer did everything right as a cyclist.

The 44-year-old father of three from the Sunshine Coast followed the rules, observed road safety best practice and encouraged other bike riders to do the same.

In actively campaigning for police to more seriously enforce a law requiring drivers to leave a 1m distance when overtaking cyclists, he was always careful not to vilify motorists.

In 90 per cent of cases, Mr Frewer would often say, those in command of four wheels were courteous of those on top of two.

But it was those 10 per cent of instances that could have devastating consequences, which his grief-stricken widow Catherine now knows all too well.

Less than two weeks ago, while out for a morning ride on a Monday, pedalling along a route he had travelled countless times, Mr Frewer was hit by a ute and killed. The driver has not been charged.

“I was told that on the day he died, he did nothing wrong,” Ms Frewer told news.com.au.

“He was going about his normal route having a joyful ride on a lovely Monday morning. He was being safe. He should not be dead.”

This week, news.com.au has highlighted Mr Frewer’s road safety legacy and delved into the issues surrounding the long-felt animosity between cyclists and motorists.

Catherine Frewer with her three children, Lachlan, Heidi and Oscar. Picture: Peter Wallis

We began the campaign on Monday by touching on the negativity that erupted after he died — those who took to social media to express their views that cyclists shouldn’t be on the road and that too many flout the rules and act dangerously.

There were plenty of bike riders who took aim at drivers too, accusing them of bullying and acting like they own the roads.

Despite the tragic loss, the fight showed no signs of easing for even a moment.

And so, as she begins the unthinkable task of adjusting to her new life as a widow and a single mother to Lachie, Oscar and Heidi, Ms Frewer has one very simple request.

“Don’t. Please just don’t.”

Cameron Frewer is being lovingly remembered by the cycling community for his work in cyclist safety.

Cameron Frewer with wife Catherine and their three children Lachie, Oscar and Heidi.

Despite his effort to be even-handed during his Drive Safe, Pass Wide campaign, Mr Frewer received countless pieces of hate mail.

His Facebook page was flooded with obscene comments and Ms Frewer at one point suggested he take a step back.

“Cameron used to say that it felt like bullying a lot of the time. That’s how he felt. The utterly nasty things people would say to him was shocking,” she said.

“He got threats from people and I just couldn’t understand why there was so much aggression.”

RELATED: Inquiry into how police enforce safe pass laws

The war of wards between motorists and cyclists isn’t new and has been waging for years.

But something has got to change, Ms Frewer said.

The aggression has to stop and a calm and considered conversation about how Australians can share the road must take place.

Not for the sake of cyclists alone, but for the families of those killed in horrific and often preventible accidents. Families like hers.

Ceri and Danny Bos took part in a memorial ride following Cameron Frewer’s sudden and tragic death. Picture: Mark Cranitch

In the midst of her pain, Ms Frewer is focusing on ensuring no one ever has to experience what she has in the past fortnight, and will continue to grapple with for the rest of her life.

“I would say to everyone, please be kind. Be patient. Don’t be nasty. There’s no point. We’re all human beings.”

Mr Frewer had two cameras fitted to the front and rear of his bike, which would record dozens of instances of dangerously close calls.

The vision captured drivers speeding by with barely a whisker between their enormous steel vehicles and his 7kg bike.

Many were probably unaware they were breaking the law and some were probably distracted.

“But in some of them, you can see very clearly that it was a deliberate action,” Ms Frewer said.

“It’s just vicious and so incredibly dangerous. What makes people so angry that they would deliberately drive so closely to someone who is exposed, in the open and vulnerable as a road user? There is so much hate. It’s silly.”

Cameron Frewer’s widow Catherine hopes there is now a change in road safety behaviour and attitudes.

That anger can lead to foolish, split-second actions — like zooming past a bike rider too close — which can wind up being truly life-changing.

“Cameron would say that nine times out of 10, everything was fine — there were no issues,” Ms Frewer said.

“But that one time, a car would drive dangerously close to him. It only takes one close call to turn deadly. I’m living that.”

Just days before he died, Cameron wrote an impassioned open letter to police, the Government and cycling groups, urging the safe pass rule to be taken seriously.

On Wednesday, the Queensland Government said it would support complaints about enforcement to the powerful Crime and Corruption Commission.

RELATED: Cycling community starts crowd-funding campaign for Cameron’s family

Now, in his memory, Ms Frewer will carry on his legacy of road safety, lobbying for authorities to take safe pass laws seriously and helping to educate all road users.

“I hope from this we get safer roads,” she said. “I hope the nastiness stops and everyone shares the road.”