Couple's long road to recovery from trauma of serious crash

In June 2022, Andy and Callie Rigby experienced a severe head-on collision with a bus on a highway bypass in Queensland. The crash left them with minor injuries, but the traumatic event has left a lasting impact on the couple. Callie, who lost her parents in a car accident as a child, recounted the incident, saying she felt she was going to die the moment she looked up from her phone.

The Rigbys spent a week in the hospital but have struggled with the mental scars ever since. Andy, who is a wildlife and landscape photographer, has found it challenging to visit their favorite destination, Atherton Tablelands, an hour's drive from Cairns. However, his birthday brought a change as he decided to embark on a road trip, something they hadn't been able to do for over four years.

The couple, along with other motorists, have become more defensive drivers, instinctively driving to the left of the lane, even though it's not their intention. The rise in the regional Queensland road toll this year has been attributed to various factors, with no single cause or demographic singled out. Sergeant Scott Hayes, who has responded to numerous fatal accidents over 30 years, expressed his concern over the state of road safety, stating that it's a difficult and dreaded job for police officers.

He emphasized the need to change driving behaviors and not just issue fines, urging drivers to learn from their mistakes and avoid causing fatal or serious crashes.