Footy great Patrick Dangerfield opens up about the drink-driving tragedy that killed a beloved member of his family

Geelong captain Patrick Dangerfield has opened up about the profound impact of losing his uncle in a drink-driving tragedy 29 years ago, as the footy star spearheads a road safety campaign.

Dangerfield, who is an ambassador for AFL Victoria’s Road Safety Round, lost his uncle Tim in the mid-1990s after he was involved in a car accident while drink-driving.

The 35-year-old Cats skipper knows all too well how lives are changed forever by road trauma.

‘My uncle died when he was 20 and it reshaped our entire family,’ he told News Corp.

‘I was only six at the time but it shaped me because it shaped Mum. It was something she never got over.

‘He was drink-driving and he shouldn’t have been on the road. He didn’t cause the accident but he was driving through some traffic lights and someone sped through a red light. It hit him and he died.

Dangerfield’s uncle Tim (pictured) was drink-driving when another car ran a red light and struck his vehicle

‘He shouldn’t have been on the road to begin with and then through a set of circumstances and poor road management he ended up passing away. 

‘Talking to Dad, he says Mum took five or 10 years to get over it and has always been very cautious on the roads.

‘His organs were donated and funnily enough it had a positive consequence to other families. So I have a family connection, but you can see it yourself now with kids and their limited attention spans.’

Dangerfield wants people to understand the impact that their behaviour can have on others, including children.

‘People drive past an accident and you can be angry or stressed about it because you are late to work but it has affected an entire community or family,’ he said.

‘When that happens to someone you know, your world is changed forever. The road safety message starts with yourself. You can only talk about it if you exhibit good behaviour and live by it.

‘It’s about having honest conversations with those around you and doing it in a positive way. If you are a terrible driver, pull your head in.

‘Be a good role model to your kids. They see everything. The amount of people I see on their phones or texting and driving is amazing.’

Dangerfield (pictured with wife Mardi, son George and daughter Flick) says dangerous drivers need to pull their heads in

‘So with road safety round it’s about honouring the people impacted by it and spreading that message at community clubs and also honouring the hundreds of Victorians who die on regional roads every year.’

This weekend, community clubs and the 10 AFL teams in Victoria will don blue armbands to honour lives lost on the roads.

Dangerfield’s Cats, who are sitting in the top four, will take on North Melbourne at Marvel Stadium on Saturday night.