The Canberra community is being encouraged to take the pledge to drive so others survive this National Road Safety Week (15-22 May).
Launching a colouring-in competition to raise awareness of road safety in children, City Services said National Road Safety Week served as a reminder that road safety was everyone’s responsibility and was a time to reflect on the lives that had been lost.
“Every year, more than 1,200 people are killed and 44,000 seriously injured on Australian roads,” City Services said.
“Traffic injury is the biggest killer of Australian children under 15 and the second-biggest killer of all Australians aged between 15 and 24,” it said.
“These numbers are growing every year but are fully preventable and not inevitable.”
City Services said that in 2021, there were 11 lives lost in preventable road crashes in the ACT and another four road deaths had occurred so far in 2022.
“Every road death takes its toll in the form of heartache to family, friends and the community,” the Directorate said.
“The ACT continues to maintain a lower number of road fatalities per capita than the national average but, even one death is too many.
“When we say ‘drive so others survive’ we mean keeping below the speed limit, driving to the conditions, and leaving your phone or device alone whilst behind the wheel.”
It said taking these steps meant each person was contributing to safer roads.
As part of its competition for children aged 5-12, City Services has released a downloadable and printable colouring-in sheet with some simple safety messages for kids.
The colouring sheet and competition entry form can be accessed at this PS News link.
