Real Life Stories
A Life Cut Tragically Short by Risky Driving
Ben Alexander
Ben Alexander, also known as Boods, was a young gifted rugby league player with the Penrith Panthers. He was born on 13 September 1971, in Penrith, New South Wales, with a bright future in his career, having made it to first grade at only 18. Adored by both his teammates and fans, Ben lived a life of potential, both as a player and a person.
Sadly, Ben, at the young age of 20, died in a car crash at Colyton, Sydney on the night of 21 June 1992. He had partied with his teammates earlier the same evening due to the successes of his team. As he drove home Ben ran a red light at high velocity, had no seatbelt on, and a blood alcohol content of 0.148-nearly three times the legal limit. His vehicle crashed into another vehicle and he was killed immediately on hitting a telegraph pole.
The death of Ben was a devastating loss to his family, friends and the rugby community. His brother, Greg Alexander reflected, "It was some stupid things that made him short of his life... Ben learnt the hard way.” The tragedy is a heartening lesson of the perils of being in a hurry, driving under the influence, and not using safety precautions such as seatbelts. A single wrong choice may ruin a promising life and cause permanent sorrow to relatives.
Youth Lesson: Do not drive under the influence, wear a seatbelt, and obey traffic rules. Unsafe decisions on the highway are irreversible. The story of Ben Alexander is a true life example of how one moment of recklessness can ruin a life and affect thousands of other people.
Jordan's parents advocating for safe driving practices to a news agency
When Recklessness Hits Home
Jordan Hayes-McGuiness
In 2012, 18-year-old Jordan Hayes-McGuinness was a driver in a tragic crash on the Gold Coast, Queensland, which killed four of his friends and himself. It was on that night that Jordan was driving under the influence of alcohol and cannabis and lost control of his vehicle which crashed against a parked car. The fatal incident immediately claimed the lives of five youngsters leaving families, friends and the community in shock.
Peter and Melissa McGuinness were left to endure the unthinkable loss of their son and his passengers. Reflecting on the tragedy, Peter said, “Our family will never recover from what our son did. But more importantly, the sympathy belongs to Jordan’s victims.”
The McGuinness family is determined not to have the same tragedy they had and as such, the family established a program known as You Choose Youth Road Safety and the program educates young drivers on the impact of their poor driving habits.
Peter and Melissa work together to reach out to young drivers through presentations in schools and communities throughout Australia, based on their personal experience. They also stress that drinking and driving should be avoided, it is essential to drive on speed, and to realize that any irresponsible decision made behind the wheel can ruin several lives in a few seconds.
Youth Lesson: Jordan’s story is a stark reminder that one reckless decision—speeding, drink-driving, or drug-impaired driving—can irreversibly change the lives of yourself, your friends, and countless families. Safe driving isn’t just a rule—it’s a responsibility.
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