'The memories, the loneliness': Alyssa Davis family prepares for Christmas without her

The uncle of a teenage girlkilled in a crash on Peacekeeper's Way in Conception Bay South says his family is steeling itself for the first anniversary of her death.

"We're just preparing for what we know is coming. The memories, the loneliness, withoutAlyssabeing here," Cory Kavanagh told Here and Now as CBC prepared to host a forum Thursday nighton dangerous and distracted driving.

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Kavanagh's17-year-old niece, Alyssa Davis, was killed Dec. 23, 2015. Daviswas a passenger in a car that went off the road and landed on its roof.

The driver, another 17-year-old girl, was seriously injured. She, and the driver of a second vehicle pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death. Charges of street racing were dropped.

"It was a tragic car accident involving some young drivers," said Kavanagh. "Changingthe lives of a lot of young kids right off the get-go, families, friends altering their livesinstantaneously and it was 100 per cent preventable, which is the hardest thing to take."

Now, he told Here and Now host Debbie Cooper, when he hears of an accident on the road, his mind goes to the worst place.

Cory Kavanagh talks about what goes through his mind when he hears about an accident.

8 years ago

Duration 0:29

Cory Kavanagh talks about what goes through his mind when he hears about an accident.

Learning the consequences

Kavanagh and other members of his family formed the Sunshine Squad, known for yellow T-shirts that feature a picture of Alyssa Davis. Hundreds of people have joined, he said.

"It just brings everyone together with a common purpose."

That purpose includes fighting to have drivers charged as adults, and an awareness campaign to inform young drivers of the consequences of reckless or fast driving.

He said that's something that's nothappening now.

"You never learn the consequences. You never learn the impacts. The biggest focus is learning to parallel park so you can get that plastic card that lets you get on the road, doing 150 kilometres an hour on a rainy night and changing someone's lives."

Kavanagh said he thinks new drivers should be shown images from accidents such as the one that killed his niece, hoping it will act as a deterrent.

"If that's deemed to be too traumatic, or if they're not ready to see that type of imagery, then to me that's an indication that you're not ready to be behind the wheel of a car that can cause that damage. So maybe we haveto look at even raising the age before you can get your driver's licence."

CBC Newfoundland and Labrador is hosting a special 90-minute public forum on dangerous driving. Be sure to watch Here & Now from 6 until 7 p.m. NT on Thursday, Nov. 24.

The full 90-minute forum will be aired onourwebsite,Facebook pageandYouTube channelfrom 6 to 7:30 p.m. NT.