New campaign tells chilling story, South Australia

In 2009, 18-year-old Nicholas Holbrook died when the car he was a passenger in slammed into a tree on West Lakes Boulevard.

The car was being driven at high speed by Nick’s best mate, Phillip.

A new advertising campaign developed by SAPOL’s Media Road Safety Unit features never-before-seen interviews with Phillip, exposing the psychological and emotional scars left by the experience of killing his best mate.

Designed to highlight the long lasting and far reaching impact of every road trauma event, the campaign also tells the story of the same crash via a series of new interviews with Nick’s parents, Glynis and Michael Holbrooks and with the first responders who attended the scene.

Deputy Commissioner Linda Williams said the emotional campaign is a stark reminder to all drivers that one irresponsible decision can affect many lives, forever.

“As well as depicting the mental prison that these people now live in, the campaign asks every South Australian a poignant question: What damage will your driving do?” said Deputy Commissioner Williams.

“It warns that one stupid act on the road can cause life-long damage and nobody wants to live with that guilt.”

Appearing on TV from Sunday 1 August, the campaign includes 13 different commercials which will be released gradually to build the story of Nick’s crash from various perspectives, starting with Phillip’s recount of the moment he learned his driving had caused his best mate’s death.

The campaign will also appear on billboards, in shopping centres, online and on social media, targeting those who are most represented in road trauma offences.

Police Minister Vincent Tarzia said, “These are real stories told by real people – emotive and powerful content that will reach all drivers on different levels.

“Watching this campaign resonated with me on so many levels – as a father-to-be, a son, a brother, a friend. I can’t see a situation where people wouldn’t be affected in some way by these heartbreaking stories.”

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