Zachary Wilson was a 27-year-old with a bright future, a loving family, and dreams of building a life with his soulmate, Lucy. On October 4, 2024, while working safely on the footpath, Zachary was struck down by a driver with a disclosed medical condition. This driver, had a "medical episode" while driving a Volkswagon Amarok, fitted with a bull bar and was towing a caravan - a 4 tonne set up.  During the driver's medical episode they crossed a median strip and continued on 250 meters into oncoming traffic, hitting 4 vehicles as they continued at speed. The collision with the last vehicle changed their path towards where Zachary was working, behind a parked vehicle.

The Amarok (fitted with a bullbar) and caravan hit the parked car with such violent force that the parked car was flipped at a 90 degree angle, launched up and onto the footpath - directly where Zachary was working, pinning him underneath the parked car.

The devastating impact claimed Zachary’s life.

Tragically, Zachary’s story is not an isolated one. Families across Queensland (and Australia) are enduring similar heartbreaking losses because drivers with medical conditions that can render them unresponsive while driving do not have adequate restrictions in place in the interest of public safety.

Without changes to legislation, more innocent lives will be lost to preventable tragedies. Drivers with medical conditions which can cause them to become unresponsive and as such impair their ability to safely operate a vehicle are currently subject to insufficient restrictions, leaving the public vulnerable to unnecessary risks. If the system continues to fail, families like Zachary’s will continue to face unimaginable grief, losing loved ones in senseless and preventable accidents. However, by introducing common-sense measures, such as limiting vehicle types, banning bull bars, and restricting towing for individuals with medical conditions.  Lives can be saved, families and communities can be protected from enduring unnecessary heartbreak - for both the innocent victims and also the driver who has a medical episode and their families.

Zachary’s death was preventable, and his story is a powerful reminder of the flaws in our current system. Each day without change puts more lives at risk, as drivers with known medical conditions are allowed to operate vehicles that pose significant dangers to public safety. Immediate action is crucial to prevent further tragedies and ensure that the privilege of driving comes with the responsibility to protect others on the road. Now is the time to act—to honour Zachary’s memory, safeguard our communities, and save lives.

In the name of public safety, we seek following restrictions for individuals with medical conditions that may cause them to become unresponsive while driving:

1. Limit Vehicle Types: Allow only safer, smaller vehicles, such as non-turbo 1.5L 4-cylinder sedans.
2. Ban Bull Bars: Prohibit the use of bull bars on vehicles driven by individuals with these medical risks, as they significantly increase the danger in collisions.
3. Restrict Towing: Prohibit towing heavy trailers, caravans, or boats, as these setups create additional risks in the event of a medical episode.
4. Enforce Accountability: Hold drivers with known medical conditions accountable for incidents caused due to their disclosed medical condition(s), recognizing that the privilege to drive includes accepting the responsibility of ensuring public safety when driving.

We cannot wait for another innocent life to be senselessly taken - it could be yours or someone you love.  

Learn more about Zachary's story here and please, sign and share the petition.