Lead the way and drive so others survive
Published on 21 March 2019
From 6 to 12 May 2019, all road users in Goulburn Mulwaree are being asked to show their road safety leadership as part of National Road Safety Week, an annual event held to remember the lives lost on our roads and explore ways to decrease these traumatic road events.
Each year, around 1200 people are killed and another 35,000 are seriously injured in crashes on Australian roads. This year's theme lead the way: drive so others survive builds recognition that everyone, as individuals and collectively, can be a leader for road safety - through our own behaviour, by serving as role models, by supporting those affected by road trauma, and by sharing the road safety message.
Peter Frazer, Founder of National Road Safety Week and President of the SARAH Group said: “Now in its seventh year, National Road Safety Week continues to grow across the country with the amazing support of Government, councils, emergency services, road safety groups, corporate partners and the community. As the country turns yellow for the week, we implore all drivers to drive as if your loved ones are on the road ahead and make sure everyone gets home safely.
“Too many precious lives have been lost. Too many have been seriously injured, severely injured. We need to actively look after one another by choosing not to drive distracted, not to speed and certainly to never drive under the influence. I implore every single driver to take our pledge and drive so that you and others survive,” Peter Frazer continued.
Mayor Bob Kirk said Council has supported National Road Safety Week for the past three years.
“While Yellow Ribbon Week is a chance to encourage safer driving, it’s a time to remember those who have lost their lives, or who have been severely injured on our roads.
“We encourage all of our road users to Drive So Others Survive, which is the theme of this year’s National Road Safety Week. It is the shared responsibility of every single road user, whether motorists, cyclists or pedestrians, to ensure not another family suffers the heartbreak of losing a loved one on our roads.
“Turn your phone off. Watch the road. Drive to the conditions. Be considerate of other road users. These are basic driving skills and responsibilities that every driver must follow to reduce our road toll. We must redouble our efforts to improve road safety across the nation.”
National Road Safety Week 2019 coincides with the United Nations Global Road Safety Week 2019, which is the final Global Road Safety Week to be held within the UN Decade of Action on Road Safety 2011–2020.