THREE years ago, a family lost their son and brother in a horrific car crash, but the Sligar family did not lose themselves in their grief.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
To remember Todd Sligar, 23, Mitchell Holloway, 21, and Ethan Hertselt, 17, they launched Driver Fatigue Awareness Day at the Two Fat Ladies Cafe at Lucknow.
The three Orange men were returning from a hunting trip at 7.30am on April 23, 2016.
They had originally planned to camp after the night's hunt, but driving on the Mitchell Highway west of Dubbo, the driver fell asleep and the car hit a tree.
They were killed instantly.
Todds mother, Michelle Sligar, after "tremendous heartache", began a mission to help other families avoid the same loss.
VIDEO: Tanika Pintos speaks about her brother, Todd ...
Two years ago, she sought a meeting with member for Orange Phil Donato, who put her in touch with Orange-Cabonne road safety officer Andrea Hamilton-Vaughan and NSW Police.
A community grant from Transport for NSW funded the creation of a Facebook page, which features interviews with the families and their stories of loss.
"We are hoping to make it an annual event to get the message out there, to be a champ, stop for a camp," she said.
"Please, have this conversation with your son, because it's better to come home than not to come home at all."
We can write tickets all day an not make a difference - it's the public that we need to bring on the journey with us.
- NSW Police Traffic and Highway Command Chief Inspector Phil Brookes
She said driver fatigue was not limited to men or to young people and everyone could gain from the message.
Mr Donato said turning the window down, the stereo up or having a drink were not remedies to feeling tired and the only answer was to stop.
"More people have been killed as a result of driver fatigue than as a result of drink-driving, that's the prevalence of it, and the seriousness of it," he said.
"Often the impact occurs at high speed and with devastation.
"We've all driven while we've been tired - I'll put my hand up and say I've been guilty of it, but it's about recognising the signs."
NSW Police Traffic and Highway Command Chief Inspector Phil Brookes officially launched the campaign, saying there was no offence for driver fatigue and it was difficult to police.
"We can write tickets all day an not make a difference - it's the public that we need to bring on the journey with us," he said.
The campaign page can be found here.
DO YOU WANT MORE ORANGE NEWS?
- Receive our free newsletters delivered to your inbox, as well as breaking news alerts. Sign up below ...