Victims, survivors recognised on Road Safety week
Yellow ribbon campaign kicks off as industry reaffirms safety commitment
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National Road Safety Week is a sobering reminder of the realities of life on the road
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The Safer Australian Roads and Highways (SARAH) Group has reinforced a 'Lead the Way – drive so others survive' message on the launch of National Road Safety Week (NRSW) today, with industry reaffirming its commitment to safety while honouring those touched by the road toll.
As part of the initiative, Australians paused at midday to remember those affected by the road tragedy.
"Unbelievably 1,200 Australians were killed and 35,000 seriously injured last year, and with an estimated cost to our nation of $30 billion per annum, road trauma is at epidemic proportions," SARAH president Peter Frazer says.
"Yet road injury and death remains mostly hidden from the community.
"As a result, the public can become desensitised."
Frazer established the organisation after daughter Sarah and tow truck driver Geoffrey Clark were killed in a road crash on the Hume Highway in February 2012 after both were struck in the emergency lane when her car had broken down.
"While these statistics are most distressing, they tell us nothing about the personal stories of those involved, of our emergency services personnel who suffer PTSD because of what they see, of the parents and partners left to identify their loved ones, and of the sad legacy carried by family and friends for the rest of their lives."
"Often all you hear after a road tragedy is that some anonymous person has been killed or seriously injured, and that traffic is banked up, delaying commuters from getting home.
"But speak with emergency service workers about what they face, and with families and friends about what they endure after the death of a loved one, or in supporting someone who has been seriously injured, and it is impossible not to be moved."
The Australian Trucking Association (ATA) has reinforced industry’s obligation to road safety in a statement.
Read the ATA's skills and safety advisor Melissa Weller's column on road safety in action, here
"A proud supporter of National Road Safety Week, the ATA is focused on reducing the road toll. We will not rest until the number of fatal and serious injury truck crashes on our roads is zero," CEO Ben Maguire tells ATN.
"We are currently in the process of redesigning the Volvo ATA Safety Truck to educate young drivers and vulnerable road users on how to share the road safely with trucks.
"It is timely that National Road Safety Week is during the 2019 federal election campaign.
"Australia’s political leaders must use the week as an opportunity to tell us how they will reduce the road toll.
"For our part, we want to see policies like the introduction of independent, no-blame safety investigations, better roads and more rest areas, more flexible fatigue laws, and mandating autonomous emergency braking for all new trucks."
Western Roads Federation also tweets: "The numbers hide the wider devastating impact on families and friends. We need to stop being complacent and have the courage to innovate with new ideas and profound committment to road safety."
The SARAH Group is well-known for its yellow ribbon campaign for greater safety outcomes on Australian roads and has encouraged all users to contribute to safer outcomes.
"Show your solidarity by wearing a yellow ribbon, and/or flying one from your vehicle to demonstrate your public commitment. You will be making a real difference," Frazer adds.
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