The words from a Perth teen survivor that changed how I drive

If you’re a country music fan – and even if not – you might have heard Zach Bryan’s Spotless.

“I ain’t spotless, neither is you” sums up my – and most drivers’ – records on West Australian roads. As recently as February I copped a speeding fine on the Brand Highway.

Daniel and Bianca Campo, parents of Nick Campo.

I also grew up in the bush. Taxis are few, traffic cops are too, which can breed a culture in the country of taking greater risks behind the wheel.

This is evident in WA’s horror road toll so far this year – of the 122 deaths, 72 have been on regional roads.

Since speaking to Daniel and Bianca Campo, whose son Nick was killed on a Perth road while celebrating his 18th birthday, my mentality when driving has been completely reworked. No interview I’ve conducted in my career has hit me harder.

‘Naughty Nick’ was loved, a talented footballer, and by all accounts cheeky. He was also a brother and young man with a lifetime of sport, work, relationships, travel and nights out ahead of him.

His father Daniel’s bravery and composure to speak publicly just five days after losing his youngest child struck me – and likely anyone who saw that interview.

What moved me even more was Bianca. My job is to talk and write, but I struggle to put into words her grief when we spoke of her son.

Then I met Tyler Rowe. He’s a close friend and teammate of Nick, and was another passenger in the car that crashed that night, suffering a broken jaw, neck and pelvis.

In his own words, he had to “re-learn pretty much everything.” He then said something else.

“If you know the driver has been doing something he shouldn’t have, just have the guts really to call it out. Say something.”

Tyler Rowe survived the crash.Credit: Nine News Perth

If an 18-year-old footballer with a brace around his neck and facial scars from a smashed windscreen can have the eloquence to say that so clearly, just weeks after losing a good mate, all of us should have the guts to call out bad driver behaviour.

Admittedly, I am a father to a baby daughter. But you don’t have to have a child to lose to feel the impact of each death on our roads.

No call is worth a crash. No pint is worth downing if it means running over a kid. No text at the lights can’t wait before pulling over.

The Campos are starting a road safety campaign ‘Call Out for Nick’ in honour of their son. Daniel is opening Monday’s Road Safety Summit.

Our politicians have done the right thing by bringing those hit hardest into the tent – hopefully everyone in the room Monday afternoon is moved by his words.

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