My name is Mick Romeril. I am a Sergeant of Police in charge of Dromana Police Station where I have been for over 15 years. I have been a member of the Police Force for more than 30 years.

We are here for a reason and a very good reason. We are hoping to save a life or two amongst you and we hope you take us seriously. We are not being paid any extra for this. We are here because we want to be here. We are real people with real feelings. We speak from experience.

Yes we are here to shock you and open your eyes a little. What you will hear and see is real.

I speak to you both as a member of the Police Force and also as the father of two girls. One is 19 (driving for one year) and the other is 21 and has being driving for 3 years. I therefore speak from both sides of the fence. I have an interest in young people such as yourselves.

One in every four people this year in our community will be affected by road trauma – either directly or indirectly. A friend or family member of yours with either be killed or injured in a car accident this year. Scary stuff! Some of you may already have experienced that.

I have over the years attended many car accidents involving injury and death. A lot of those have involved young people who have had little experience in driving. A lot of these accidents could have been avoided. They may have been caused through excessive speed, carelessness, impatience, inexperience, aggression, alcohol and something we are hearing more about these days – ‘road rage’. Some accidents involve all of these factors.

I would like you to think to yourself

How would I feel…