Canberrans are being urged to make the pledge to drive so others survive this National Road Safety Week.
“Too many people are killed or seriously injured on ACT roads every year,” said Minister for Transport and City Services Chris Steel
“Last year was our worst road toll in more than a decade with 18 lives lost in preventable accidents as well as over 500 injuries.
“Already this year, we have see two fatalities on roads in the ACT – for our community this is 20 deaths too many.
“This road safety week, and every week, we’re asking Canberrans to ‘drive so others survive’ and to back in the National Road Safety Week campaign, by taking the pledge.”
To support this campaign, the ACT Government is progressively implementing a range of reforms to improve road safety and combat dangerous driving behaviours by introducing stronger penalties for offenders who drive dangerously. This includes specific new offences for excessive speeding and hooning.
Minister for Police and Emergency Services Mick Gentleman said National Road Safety Week is an important opportunity to remind Canberrans that road safety is everyone’s responsibility.
“When we get behind the wheel, we take responsibility for the entire community as well as ourselves,” said Minister Gentleman.
“Driving so others survive means sticking to the speed limit, wearing a seatbelt, not driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, driving to the conditions, looking out for vulnerable road users and leaving the phone alone.
“The trauma associated with road fatalities impacts our entire community, from the families and friends who live through trauma as well as all our first responders and emergency services personnel.”
Canberrans will see iconic buildings and structures lit up in yellow throughout the week including the Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House, Telstra Tower, as well as the National Carillon, Kings Avenue overpass, Malcolm Fraser Bridge, City Fountain and light rail stops.
Reflective yellow ribbon pledge stickers will also be showcased on a number of ACT Policing, emergency services and government vehicles, as well as Transport Canberra buses and light rail support vehicles.
Founded by the Safer Australian Roads and Highways, National Road Safety Week started as an annual initiative 11 years ago with the intention of remembering and honouring those lives lost on our roads and encouraging the community to recommit to drive safely.
