'My life as I knew it was destroyed'

A nita Geldard miraculously survived being run down by a taxi driver 18 years ago.

But the trauma changed her life forever.

And the mum-of-one is reminded of the consequences on a daily basis.

"My life as I knew it was destroyed," said Anita.

"The impact of the accident is with me on a daily basis - it is a constant reminder of what happened."

Anita suffered massive head injuries after the accident on August 21, 1988.

She was going for a meal after a night out with her boyfriend when she was knocked down as they crossed Laisterdyke Road in Bradford in the early hours.

Her body was thrown into the air and landed underneath a parked car.

Anita, of Bolton Woods, Bradford, remembers nothing about the accident.

"I think my brain has purposely blanked out the memory," she said.

Her boyfriend suffered a broken leg but Anita's injuries were far worse.

She suffered massive head injuries and a broken leg.

"My family was told to prepare for the worst," said Anita, now 42.

"I was on a life support machine for two weeks and in a coma for six weeks."

When she finally came out of the coma, Anita had no memory of her former life.

"I didn't even remember I had a daughter," said Anita, who is now a grandmother.

"I had to learn to live life all over again. I had to learn to walk and talk again."

Anita said one of the hardest things she had to cope with was that she could not care for her daughter.

"I was completely incapable of looking after her - my family had to take over and I had to pay other people to help me with her," said Anita. "I was robbed of precious years with my daughter."

Despite making good progress with re-building her life, Anita still struggles with her disabilities.

She walks with a limp, has completely lost the use of her right arm and the head injuries have left her with a speech defect.

"Even silly things that most people take for granted like doing my clothes up are still a big challenge for me," she said.

"I still can't walk long distances."

It took Anita eight years to receive any compensation. The final pay-out was £100,000.

"That was supposed to last me for the rest of my life," she said.

"It is running out now and I am very scared about the future."

Anita said she was supporting the T&A's Be Safe Not Sorry campaign because she wanted people to understand what the consequences of their driving can mean.

"A split-second decision by someone driving a car can have a lifetime effect on someone like me," she said.

'The hurst and pain never leave you'

Maureen Harris lost her 21-year-old son Robert in a road accident in June 2000.

Robert died when his friend lost control of the Peugeot car he was a passenger in.

He suffered multiple injuries when the car spun out of control and hit a tree at the side of Harrogate Road near Greengates in Bradford.

Maureen said she will never get over losing her son.

"The hurt and pain never leave you," she said. "You just learn to live with it."

She said the tragedy had a massive impact on her health and meant she had to take several months off work.

"I haven't been right since the accident,"she said. "It's exactly like I have lost a part of me.

"I don't think I ever will recover from losing Robert."

She said seeing reports of road accidents in the news brought memories flooding back to her.

"Every time I hear something on the news or hear a car screeching outside it all comes flooding back to me," she said.

Maureen knew something bad had happened to Robert when the police knocked on her door at around 10.45pm.

"I just knew they were there about Robert," she said.

"I couldn't take the news in. Me and my partner went for a long walk to try and absorb what had happened."

Despite six years passing, Maureen said she still thinks of Robert constantly.

"There isn't a day that goes by when I do not think of him," she said.

"People ask if it is worse on birthdays or anniversaries of his death, but it isn't - it's bad every day."

She said her family, including Robert's younger brother, Luke, were trying to rebuild their lives.

"It has been hugely traumatic for all of us but we have had to try and piece our lives back together," she said.

She said losing Robert in the way she did makes her more concerned about her other son.

"I worry about Luke all the time," she said.

"Every time he leaves for work or goes out I always say Be careful'. If he is late I panic and wonder if something has happened."

Maureen, of Drighlington, said if she had one message for drivers it was to slow down.

"If people reduce their speed the number of accidents will fall," she said.

"If through talking about my own experiences then I can help another family to cope with their pain or prevent people from driving too quickly then it is worth it.

"I am so pleased that the T&A has launched the campaign because it brings attention to important issues."

YOUR STORIES AND CAMPAIGN VIEWS

• "Ten years ago we lost a dear nephew in a tragic road accident. He was just 14 - far too young to die. To think more and drive more carefully could prevent many tragedies" - Ron and Eileen Jarvis, of Airedale Mount, Keighley.

• "On 15 September 2003 my 34-year-old daughter Diane died in a collision near her home in Indiana, USA, when her stationary car was struck by a truck. We can never get over her loss" - Brian Pickford, of Summerbridge Crescent, Eccleshill, Bradford.

• "My son was run over. Because he was in a coma for 74 days the driver responsible got off scot-free. Where is the justice? I have been left heartbroken" - Lorraine Hammond, of Terracotta Drive, Allerton, Bradford.

• "I did pass plus' lessons after passing my driving test which helps with road conditions like snow, driving in the dark and motorway driving. Since losing Adele Barnes, a young friend who meant an awful lot to many people, in such a tragic and unnecessary accident, I would like people to be aware of the potential hazards presented by young drivers who are not in full control of a car" - Elaine Brookes, of Bramleigh Grove, Morley.

• "I have been involved in road safety throughout most of my career and I fully support this campaign. I will continue to practice good driving techniques and will encourage others to do likewise. Let's hope together we can make Bradford a flagship for road safety" - John O'Leary, of Park Hill Drive, Allerton, Bradford.

• "Your Be Safe Not Sorry campaign and the stories in your newspaper have had the effect on me to really look at how I drive and so I hope it works on others too" - Ian Morton, of Fenby Avenue, Dudley Hill, Bradford.

• "I try to be a safe and considerate driver and feel that keeping to speed limits is an important aspect in this. During my daily drive to my job as a teacher in Bradford I see many instances of inconsiderate and often dangerous driving" - Frances Andrews, of Wayland Drive, Adel, Leeds.

• "Five per cent of drivers cause accidents by driving too fast, going through red lights or drink driving" - Coleen Bradshaw, of Knowles View, Holme Wood, Bradford.

• "My son was knocked down because a car was parked on the causeway" - Roger Barnett, of Dunkirk Rise, Keighley.

• "It is important to me because I think more awareness should be made to prevent and cut the number of accidents and deaths on our roads" - Nazia Akhtar, of Horton Grange Road, Bradford.

• "There are real problems with speeding cars in Bolton Road. There have already been a number of deaths there and something needs to be done to prevent further ones." - Councillor Howard Middleton, of Harrogate Terrace, Undercliffe, Bradford.

• "Bring back manners and respect on the road so everyone will be safer driving around Bradford" - Imelda Parker, of Thorngate, Thornton, Bradford.

• "Some motorists I see daily travel around 60 miles per hour in Allerton Road" - Dennis Rhodes, of Allerton Road, Allerton, Bradford.

• "I am a driving instructor in Keighley. I consider it my responsibility to teach young people to drive defensively and safely" - Javid Iqbal, of Eric Street, Keighley.

• "I would really like to get behind your campaign. As an advanced driving instructor and examiner my remit is to train company drivers to raise their awareness and driving standard to a new level" - Henry Unsworth, of Idle Road, Undercliffe, Bradford.

• "As a pedestrian, cyclist and motorist I notice the increase in speed" - Jean Tilleard, of Ridgeway, Wrose, Bradford.

• Tell us why road safety is important to you - it might be because you know someone who has been involved in an accident, or you may have been involved in an accident yourself and want to share your story to help others. Just log onto our website at www.thetelegraph andargus.co.uk and go to the Be Safe Not Sorry section.

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