It is just over a month since police knocked on Laura McKay’s door to tell her the horrifying news that her son Kairon had been hit by a car.
The nine-year-old was killed on the A90, near Longforgan, as he bent down to tie his shoelace.
The heartbroken mum has revealed she still calls out his name in the home they once shared.
Now, as she tries to get back to a normal life without her “best friend”, the 34-year-old has said what happened on the night of October 23 might have been avoided if her son was more visible to the driver.
As Road Safety Week finishes, Laura wants to raise awareness of how improved safety measures on the road could save lives.
Laura said: “After what happened to Kairon, I gave the two friends he was with on that night high-visibility vests. I said to put them on if they were ever going near a road.
“Kairon wasn’t playing on his skateboard on the road when he got knocked down, he was bending down to tie his shoelace and it could have been a different story if he was wearing something which was highly visible to the driver.
“It’s any driver’s responsibility to concentrate on the road, but they could also be helped with pedestrians and dog walkers walking along busy roads if they were to wear highly-visible clothing.
“From the experience of what happened to me I would say to every parent, when your kids go out to play, make them wear something bright so they can be seen. Or when you’re driving, make sure you’re not getting distracted, as it’s not worth having anyone experience such loss.
“The effect something like this has on people’s lives after just a split second is devastating.
“This kind of thing completely knocks you back. I’m not sure I’ll ever recover from it. I lost my son and my best friend that night.”
Laura briefly moved back with her parents after the incident but has since returned to her home in Almondbank.
Laura, who has also gone back to work as an adult carer, added: “I still feel numb. I’m just trying to get back to a normal life, but without Kairon in it. I still don’t think I’ve accepted he has gone yet. There are times when I’m calling his name when I’m in the house.
“Every day I am expecting him to come in through the door, say ‘hello’ to me, and run up to his room.
“When I’m at work my mind is occupied with something else. At home I’m always thinking about him. It’s the most devastating thing that has ever happened to me.
“It will take a long time before I can get back to any normality in my life.
“Staying safe on the road, if you’re a driver or a pedestrian is so important, because it’s hard to imagine the effect something like this has until it’s too late.
“Everything is still intact in Kairon’s room. I put the washing up in his room to dry so I still have a reason to go in there.
“Going to my mum and dad’s for dinner is hard because there’s someone missing at the table.
“It’s the little things you miss. But for me the most frustrating thing is that I know somehow this could have been avoided.”