That’s why he tied a ribbon on his car at the start of National Road Safety Week yesterday, which comes after a horror couple of months on the region’s roads.

It may seem like just the latest in a long list of coloured-ribbon causes, but Inspector Tait said it could be the reminder someone else needed to pay attention and drive safely.

The theme for the week this year is Stop Driving Blind, which urges people to minimise in-car distractions – a leading cause of accidents.

This could include not talking or texting on mobile phones; adjusting radio, mirror and airconditioning settings only while stationary; and taking a break to eat or drink.

“Anything that promotes or reminds people on a daily basis that the thing they are driving can be quite lethal ... and has an impact not only on themselves but potentially on other people and other people’s families, is without doubt beneficial,” Inspector Tait said.

He said he had attended many serious crashes, “and I’ve never been able to rationalise [the] needless loss of life”.

“When I look at a crash scenario, and I see the mayhem and chaos and death that it creates, I think of the people it’s going to impact upon.

“Unfortunately a road statistic is exactly that, a road statistic and it’s too late to prevent that, but the impact and flow-on effect it has is incredible.

“Five seconds of distraction, misjudgement and making a stupid decision is a lifetime and life-changing event.”

Inspector Tait said a lesser-considered statistic was the number of people not killed.

For every person who dies on the roads, 25 people are seriously injured.

“Five seconds of misjudgement can create 50 years of misery,” Inspector Tait said.

Apart from tying a yellow ribbon on their car, drivers can also pledge to drive safely at www.sarahgroup.org