Blue Mountains City Council is proud to reaffirm its commitment to road safety by supporting National Road Safety Week, which runs from 16 – 23 May.
The 2021 theme is ‘Lead the way: drive so others survive’. Each year National Road Safety Week highlights the responsibility we all share to protect ourselves and each other on the road, and commemorating those who have lost their lives on Australian roads.
The campaign is an initiative of Safer Australian Roads and Highways (SARAH) which was established by Mr Peter Frazer after his daughter, Sarah was killed in a road crash on the Hume Highway in February 2012.
Mayor Mark Greenhill said: “We all use the roads in some way, as drivers, passengers, cyclists or pedestrians. And that means we all have a role to play in keeping each other safe.
“The work SARAH does is fantastic and sadly essential, with around 1200 people dying on our roads each year.
“That’s 1200 people with mums, dads, brothers, sisters and kids who won’t come home again. So please, no matter how confident you are or if you’re in a rush, slow down, remove distractions and adhere to the road rules.”
This Sunday, 16 May the National Road Safety Week campaign is asking people to pause at 12pm to remember the 1200 people who die on Australian roads each year.
All Australians are also encouraged to participate in this year’s events by displaying a yellow ribbon on their car, motorbike or bicycle, as a symbol of commitment to safer driving and to reflect on the impact of road tragedy.
Yellow ribbons and other Yellow Ribbon National Road Safety Week items are available by donation at Council’s customer service counters in Katoomba and Springwood, and online at the SARAH Group website.
SARAH President Peter Frazer said: “I am proud that we have been able to create this weeklong focus on preventing death and serious injury on our roads and I am honoured that we now have the Commonwealth and every State and Territory supporting us.
“It has been fantastic to have local government demonstrating how they can actively protect their own community. With this in mind, we note the leadership of the BMCC Mayor and Councillors in joining SARAH as an inaugural Yellow Ribbon Road Safety Council!
“We thank our Partners and Supporters and every organisation that gets behind our campaigns, because like us, they recognise that everyone has a right to get home safe to their loved ones, every day, with no exceptions. It is incredible to see such commitment to driving change to make our roads safe.”
You can further support the cause by taking the Road Safety pledge online.
Photo: Mayor Mark Greenhill with SARAH President, Peter Frazer
