Care and compassion earns driver Highway Guardian title

Mr Young was travelling between Melbourne and Adelaide when he came across a fatal head-on collision involving a car that had veered onto the wrong side of the road and collided with a fully loaded B-double. The collision caused the trailers to roll over and the prime mover to erupt into flames.

After a quick assessment, Mr Young came to the aid of his fellow truckie by pulling him from the burning cab and into the safety of another vehicle until emergency services arrived.

Not only did Mr Young save the truck driver’s life, but he also contacted their employer the following day to check in on his wellbeing following the crash.

Bridgestone Australia and New Zealand Managing Director, Heath Barclay, said Mr Young’s story highlights the camaraderie of the industry.

“We’re proud to recognise Steven Young with the Bridgestone Bandag Highway Guardian award. His selfless actions, not just on the night, but following the crash demonstrates that the title is beyond fitting,” Mr Barclay said.

“Mr Young prevented a terrible crash becoming worse and showed incredible kindness and care for his fellow truck driver. This is precisely what the Bridgestone Bandag Highway Guardian embodies.”

Australian Trucking Association Chair David Smith said it was incidents like these that saw the industry’s best shine, as well as highlighting the importance of road safety.

“I want to congratulate Steven Young on being named a Bridgestone Bandag Highway Guardian. Your actions that night and in the follow up were selfless. We’re delighted to present you with this accolade,” Mr Smith said.

“We are privileged to have heroes like Steven Young in our industry, because he shows genuine kindness for his peers and places importance on what matters most,” he said.

The Bridgestone Bandag Highway Guardian accolade is evaluated on a case-by-case basis by the Australian Trucking Association. If you know a member of the industry who warrants the title, nominate them here.