Stuff co.nz 21 July 2019
Family First Comment: Ron Crone lost his only child Ethan in May 2017, in a crash he said would not have happened if his son hadn’t recently smoked cannabis. As a result, Crone said he feels “relieved” at the announcement of a new road safety campaign that aims to get people talking about the harm caused by drug driving….
Ethan Crone had been introduced to cannabis at a young age, his father said, and the normalisation of the drug by society had led to his “horrible, painful death”.
#saynopetodope
The devastated father of a young man who died after crashing his car into a tree, believes New Zealanders need to be more aware of the risks of drug driving.
Ron Crone lost his only child Ethan in May 2017, in a crash he said would not have happened if his son hadn’t recently smoked cannabis. As a result, Crone said he feels “relieved” at the announcement of a new road safety campaign that aims to get people talking about the harm caused by drug driving.
Over the next six weeks, the NZ Transport Agency’s @Unsaid campaign will seek real stories from New Zealanders about their experience of harm from drug driving.
Crone said his own life stopped on the day his 24-year-old son missed the intersection of Easterbrook and Hicklands roads, south of Rangiora, and went over a small stop bank.
Ethan Crone had been introduced to cannabis at a young age, his father said, and the normalisation of the drug by society had led to his “horrible, painful death”.
“When Ethan was stoned his reaction time became very slow, he knew that corner well, he drove it regularly, but when he was high he would kind of zone out, be lethargic and make silly decisions.”
In the last few years of Ethan Crone’s life, he had crashed at the exact spot three previous times, all while under the influence of cannabis.
The death had taken an extreme emotional toll on his father, who said he often wanted to lie down next to him in the cemetery.
READ MORE: https://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/114385551/drug-driving-grieving-father-speaks-about-the-harm-it-has-caused
Ad campaign aimed to tackle drug-driving has families speaking up
TVNZ One News 21 July 2019
A six-week advertising campaign aimed at tackling drug driving has begun tonight, following a petition which has called for roadside drug testing.
The Transport Agency’s ad is part of a wider two-million-dollar campaign to reduce harm caused by drug driving although critics are saying it misses the mark.
The woman who fronts the advert lost her cousin while driving under the influence of drugs and she is asking others to share their stories.
Kiwis affected by drug-driving accidents have expressed to 1 News how important it is to raise awareness around the growing issue.
“I’d stress to families when they are actually watching this ad to actually talk about it. The trouble with drugs is that it is a hidden identity,” Ron Crone told 1 News.
Mr Crone lost his 24-year-old son in 2017 and says it was a normal routine for his son and other family and friends to drive while under the influence of cannabis.
“They felt there was no issue with driving stoned … some even commented it made their driving safer.”
READ MORE: https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/ad-campaign-aimed-tackle-drug-driving-has-families-speaking-up
