Road Safety Minister Paul Papalia hit the bitumen earlier this week launching National Road Safety Week to catch the attention of drivers and other road users and warn them of the dangers on the road and how to avoid them.
According to Mr Papalia, National Road Safety Week is an opportunity to stop and think about the many aspects of road safety and to spend some time focussing on what we can do as driving individuals so that we, and others on the roads, survive.
“This year, 51 people have already lost their lives on WA roads,” Mr Papalia said.
Flanked by yellow kangaroo paws representing the 166 lives lost on WA roads last year, the Minister took the National Road Safety Week pledge to ‘Drive so others survive’.
“I want people to realise that this road trauma is preventable, so let us all take the pledge this week,” he said.
Also marking the week, the trees in Kings Park’s Fraser Avenue are being illuminated in yellow as well as more than 60 other buildings and landmarks all over the State in remembrance of the 1,200 lives lost and more than 40,000 people seriously injured on Australia’s roads each year.
Other yellow lights are being switched on at Police headquarters, Optus Stadium, Matagarup Bridge as well as the Kimberley towns of Kununurra and Derby, and Albany Town Square.
“It’s wonderful to see communities all over WA getting involved by lighting up local landmarks in yellow,” Mr Papalia said.
“While this visual display recognises the lives lost, it may also start conversations about road safety that could save lives” he said.
“I would like to thank all of the organisations and community groups running these events and encourage people to get along to them.”
Further information about National Road Safety Week is available on the Road Safety Commission website at this PS News link and everyone’s invited to take the pledge at this PS News link.
