High Profile Road Offences Highlight Need for Victim Impact Panels
High Profile Road Offences Highlight Need for Victim Impact Panels
This week, we've witnessed a disheartening tale of a young NRL star's repeated offences on the road, illustrating a serious problem that extends well beyond the individual. While we are all too familiar with the consequences of such reckless driving, it is equally crucial to focus on effective solutions that can address this issue at its core. This is where Victim Impact Panels (VIP) come into play.
The statistics are sobering: repeat offenders are six times more likely to be involved in serious or fatal road crashes. The tragic loss of innocent lives due to criminal acts on New South Wales roads continues to be a mournful occurrence. It's high time we consider alternative strategies to reduce road fatalities without solely relying on stricter restrictions for drunk, drugged, or habitual speeding offenders.
Drawing from an eight-year study conducted in the United States on the impact of VIP, it was found that individuals with prior DUI convictions who participated in a VIP program exhibited significantly lower recidivism rates over an eight-year period than those who did not attend. This demonstrates the potential of VIP in curbing repeat offenses and making our roads safer.
VIP sessions are designed to help individuals convicted of drunk and drugged driving offences understand the profound and lasting consequences of substance-impaired driving. Victims, survivors, and those impacted by crashes involving substance-impaired drivers share their stories during VIP sessions. They aim to convey the real impact of these incidents on their lives, as well as the lives of their families and friends, without laying blame or judgment. These sessions seek to cultivate empathy and understanding, leaving a lasting impression that can prevent future offences.
As a father who tragically lost his son to a drunk driver, an incident that saw the offender escape any meaningful penalty, I fervently advocate for including Victim Impact Panels in our response to these cases. At the very least, it is a significant step toward addressing incidents of Vehicular Homicide, which, in all fairness, is a more appropriate term for these devastating crimes.
The evidence from the United States strongly suggests that implementing VIP in New South Wales can be a powerful tool in reducing repeat offences and ultimately saving lives. It's a solution that should gain bipartisan support and be a priority for the New South Wales Parliament. Let's remember, the goal here is not just punishment but prevention, making our roads safer for everyone.
[Source: Fiftyfive5 Research 2023]
For more information, see "Do Victim Impact Panels Have Sustained Effects on DUI Recidivism?" by Kevin Thompson and Sarah Joyce.
Duncan Wakes-Miller
RTSG Founding Member
27 December, 2023