Sofia Vigile lights candles as a daily ritual near a picture and memorial in her family room.
On Aug. 6, 2006, her 16-year-old son Gennaro was out with friends and headed down Hunt Club Road towards a gathering.
The driver lost control and crashed into a tree. Gennaro, who wasn't wearing a passenger's seatbelt, died instantly.
His brother Franco was among the first on the scene.
"I got in the police vehicle and I took the longest ride home of my life to see my parents," he recalled.
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Police blamed speed and driver error for the crash. Gennaro's mother believes the car was travelling 120 kilometres per hour in an 80-kilometre zone.
Thousands of deaths and injuries
Gennaro's death, however, was not an isolated incident. According to the Traffic Injury Research Foundation, nearly 3,800 Canadians were killed or injured in 2006 due to speeding - 20 per cent of all collisions.
The problem is simple physics, and even simpler common sense: the faster you're driving, the longer it takes to stop.
During a police demonstration for CTV Ottawa, a vehicle skidded just over six metres at 40 kilometres per hour.
At 60 kilometres per hour, the skidding distance more than doubles, to 15 metres. Those who slam on the brakes at 80 kilometres per hour need about 40 metres to stop. With rain, snow, or ice, the distance can double.
Police recommend drivers look as far down the road as possible to recognize potential hazards well ahead of time.
For the Vigile family, two years hasn't erased their loss. Every day reminds them of their last moments with Gennaro.
"Oh my goodness, slow down, it's not worth it" Sophia said. "Slow down and put your seatbelts on."
With a report from CTV Ottawa's Catherine Lathem
