National Road Safety Week: Remember the 1200 at 12pm

Council is supporting the 2019 Yellow Ribbon National Road Safety Week from 6-12 May and is asking the community to join the ‘Drive So Others Survive’ campaign to promote safer Australian roads and highways.

Now in its sixth year, the event is organised by SARAH (Safer Australian Roads and Highways) with its partners the Australian Automobile Association, Altus Traffic and Road Safety Education, and support from local Councils.

The week focuses on improving safety on our roads and highways, as well as remembering those who have lost their lives or have been seriously injured.

Maroondah Mayor, Councillor Rob Steane, said road safety was not only about protecting yourself but everyone who uses our roads.

“The responsibility for safer roads is shared across Australia, and is important for us locally, particularly given the number of vehicles that use our roads on a daily basis,” Cr Steane said.

“During the week, I encourage our community to take the online pledge to drive safely,” he said.

With National Road Safety Week (NRSW) being launched today, Monday 6 May, the National Road Safety Week Partners are asking the community to pause at midday today to remember those affected by road tragedy.

Cr Steane said that with 1200 Australians killed and 35,000 seriously injured last year, and an estimated yearly cost to our nation of $30 billion, road trauma was at epidemic proportions.

“Yet road injury and death remains mostly hidden from the community. As a result, the public can become desensitised,” he said.

“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,” Cr Steane said.

SARAH President Peter Frazer said: “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,” Mr Frazer said.

“So at midday today we are asking people to stop for a moment to remember those 1200 killed … and to stop and remember those 35,000 Australians who were seriously injured on our roads last year,” he said.

Cr Steane said the community could show their solidarity by wearing a yellow ribbon, and/or flying one from their vehicle to demonstrate their public commitment.

“As a sign of respect at the Council Meeting on Monday 20 May, we will have a minutes silence for us to stop and reflect on those who we have lost and what we can all do to make our roads safer,” Cr Steane said.

Maroondah City Council and the National Road Safety Week Partners are encouraging all Australians to take the “Drive So Others Survive!” pledge on the