On January 5th, 2024, our family was shattered by a tragic loss. My beloved mother-in-law, Jeannine Ball and grandmother-in-law, Lynda Ball, were taken from us in a horrific head-on collision, the result of another driver's negligence. Despite the devastation inflicted upon our family, the driver responsible has shown little cooperation with law enforcement and no remorse for the irreparable harm caused. Our grief and heartbreak has only been amplified by the lack of support and justice we have been shown by the New Zealand legal system.

It's disheartening to witness the current legal system's leniency towards such offenders. In 2023 alone, 343 lives were lost in car crashes according to police.govt.nz. Yet, punishments often amount to minor fines based on precedent, failing to truly reflect the value of human life. In 2023, Waka Kotahi increased the Value of a Statistical Life from $4.88 million to $12.5 million. This means that it is high time for the legal system to also recognize the true value of human life and impose stricter penalties on those responsible for fatal car crashes.

Driving a vehicle, you take ownership that you are in control of a lethal weapon. Just the same as someone who owns a gun, a knife, or other possessions that have the potential to cause serious injury to another individual. Yet, people who kill others in a car crash are given such leniency as if it were only ever an 'accident'. Throughout New Zealand, and many other countries across the world, there are signs stating 'keep left', 'tired? pull over', 'don't drink & drive', 'don't use your phone' along with many other warning signs. Again, when these signs and warnings are not adhered to, the repercussions are often practically non-consequential for the offender.

It's time to demand change. How can we put a price on a life? We refuse to accept a system where fatal car crash offenders evade significant consequences. We're calling for stricter penalties and harsher sentencing to ensure justice for victims and their families. Our pain cannot be brushed aside with mere slaps on the wrist; it must be a catalyst for change. Join us in demanding accountability and fairness in the face of tragedy.