AT FIVE years of age, Mark Poulton stepped out onto a road and – in front of his mother’s eyes – was run over by a car. Today, the 47-year-old road safety educator travels across the state to teach school students crucial road safety rules.
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In support of The Area News Survive the Drive campaign Mr Poulton has spoken out about the need to stay safe this holiday period.
“When I was five, I was hit by a car. We wanted to cross the road and mum held my hand on one side and my two-year-old brother’s on the other.
“We stepped out between two trucks that were parked on the side of the road.
“Mum saw a car coming and took a step back, but I let go of her hand and stepped out, right in front of it.
“I remember the car going over me, I could see what it looked from underneath.”
Today, Mr Poulton only carries a scar on his chin, but the memory of the fateful day that could have ended his life, will forever be etched in his memory.
Five years ago the Newcastle man made it his pursuit to keep road users safe when they get into a car.
“Especially many young people don’t have enough knowledge and understanding about cars.
“They get their Ps and off they go and buy a used old vehicle with bald tyres and brakes that don’t work properly,” Mr Poulton said.
“People need to understand that a bald tyre will not handle a corner or a wet road.
“And the wrong tyre pressure will throw a car out of whack on the road.
“Terrible things can happen when we don’t pay attention to those things.”
The road safety educator said another crucial lesson any motorist should learn is to keep their car clean.
“I get in cars and they have stuff all over the floor,” he said.
“Chips packets, cups, cans. It all moves around in the car while driving – and a can can easily roll behind the break pedal.
“In a dangerous situation you will not be able to stop.”
Mr Poulton said he also encourages road users to check their seat belts for rips.
“Even a little tear can cause great damage in a crash,” he said.
“A damaged seat belt, or no seat belt at all, can cause you to go through the front windscreen.
“And no-one just breaks a thumb going through the windscreen.”
The founder of the ‘Lemon Car’ road
safety education program said besides regular checks on tyres, breaks, steering and seat belts, he would urge motorists to get a reversing camera in a a bid to save children’s lives.
“Every year, too many little children die in their family’s driveway,” he said.
“They are so hard to see when they are behind the car.
“It’s a terrible and very dangerous situation.”
Only in October this year a two-yearold girl lost her life when she was run over by a reversing car in her family home’s driveway.