Crash survivor warns against dangerous driving this summer

Bridie Young suffered life-changing injuries at age 19 when the intoxicated driver of a car she was in hit a tree. Photo / Supplied

Bridie Young’s life changed forever when the car she was in hit a tree.

The then 19-year-old was out drinking with mates, celebrating a friend’s birthday, when the driver, who had also been drinking, swerved and crashed.

Now, a 24-year-old Young told the Herald the accident has permanently changed her life.

She still has symptoms from the six broken vertebrae, two broken ribs, broken pelvis, punctured lung and traumatic brain injury she suffered.

The biggest impact has been on her voice, she said, while she still can’t fully straighten one arm and struggles with spasticity in her foot and arm.

Bridie Young in hospital after the crash. Photo / Supplied

That is despite the six months of intensive rehabilitation where she had to relearn how to stand and walk, after just under two months of being in a coma.

“It was hard trying to relearn everything again because, as well as the physical, I was having to relearn how to talk freely and just do life again.

“It was like I was a baby again.

“I was relearning all these things that used to be so natural to me, and I would just effortlessly do, but now I’m struggling to do it. It was so frustrating.”

Now she and fellow crash survivor, Soraya Newton, are collaborating with Students Against Dangerous Driving (Sadd) to encourage young people to make smart decisions as they hit the road for festivals, camping and summer activities.

Newton was only 15 when she was a passenger in a crash where a drunk driver lost control.

Her family were told it was unlikely she would survive.

Young wants people to know that the fun and excitement they believe they might get from drunk or dangerous driving is not worth the risks.

Bridie Young now tells her story to others to warn against the consequences of dangerous driving. Photo / Supplied

The Upper Hutt resident has been telling her cautionary tale to others in the hopes of educating people about the consequences of driving dangerously.

She has talked to at-risk youth at the Wellington Central and Porirua Police Stations and spoken at school courses that address drink-driving.

As well as making smart decisions themselves, people should call out and stop their friends from “doing something they shouldn’t”, said Young.

“It might be awkward in the moment, but it’s worth it if it keeps you and your friends alive.”

About 90 deaths and 600 serious injuries a year are caused by crashes where a young driver is judged to be at fault in the country, according to Ministry of Transport data.

Alcohol was a contributing factor in 323 deaths and serious injuries on New Zealand roads in the 12 months to September 30 this year, according to NZ Transport Agency.

A combination of drugs and alcohol contributed to 80 deaths or injuries in the same period.

Sadd general manager Donna Govorko said young people should speak up before getting in a car with a drunk driver, look out for their friends, stand up to peer pressure and call out when someone is driving in a distracted manner.

“Stay off your phone, drive to the conditions and always within the limit, and never drink and drive are the messages we really want to hammer home for our young people this summer.”

Govorko praised the resilience of Young and Newton, saying their stories serve as a sobering reminder that one poor decision can have a lifelong impact.