Member for Warren-Blackwood, Terry Redman is keen to promote the 2017 WALGA RoadWise Road Ribbon for Road Safety campaign, which was recently launched and runs until January 5 next year.

The campaign is committed to improving road safety by increasing awareness, getting the community involved and working together to reduce road fatalities and injuries in Western Australia.
 
Mr Redman said more than 4100 people were killed or seriously injured on regional roads from 2012 – 2016, a rate of 127.5 incidents per 100,000 people.
 
This region is not immune from the devastating impact of road accidents, with 141 people in the South West and 40 people in the Great Southern killed over that four year period,” he said.
 
“Time and time again we hear the same behaviours leading to road deaths and serious injuries – seat belts not being worn, speed, drink driving and fatigue.
 
“If everyone does their bit by following road rules, driving to conditions, buckling up, staying alert and being respectful of other road users, we can all get home safely to our families.”
 
“We are especially conscious of the disproportionately high road toll recorded in regional WA and encourage those traveling in the regions over the holiday period to be safe road users.
 
“No family wants an empty seat at the table this Christmas, so slow down and be mindful of other road users this holiday season.”
 
The Nationals WA will be wearing their road ribbons in Parliament over the next three weeks to demonstrate their support for the campaign, joining more than 21,000 other West Australians who have ordered the ribbons so far.

Over harvest there is increased activity on regional roads as growers deliver grain into CBH Group's receival sites across the state. In addition, our normal transport of grain throughout our network continues.
That's why we've teamed up with renowned boxer Danny Green and RAC to promote safe driving practices over harvest.
See a message from Danny below and take the time to explore our safe driving tips.

Nationals Member for the South West Region, Colin Holt, has welcomed the announcement of a record $145.7 million in the 2016-17 State Budget for proven road safety initiatives over 2016-17.

Mr Holt said it was the most money ever allocated from the Road Trauma Trust Account (RTTA) and well beyond the predicted income from speed and red light cameras.

He said regional West Australians would benefit from nearly $64.9 million for road safety features including overtaking lanes, wire rope barriers, audible line edging and road widening.

“The over-representation of fatal crashes on regional roads is unacceptable, and while personal responsibility is the number one solution, as a Government we will do all we can to make our roads safer and more forgiving in the event of a crash,” Mr Holt
said.

Mr Holt said $2.2 million would fund the State’s first alcohol interlock system for serious and repeat drink drivers and $5.53 million would continue additional roadside alcohol and drug testing.

The RTTA funding also included:

• $12 million to complete the flashing 40kmh school zone sign project.
  
• $7.8 million to fund recommendations from the Wheatbelt Highway Safety Review.
  
• $4.1 million for education campaigns.
  
• $6.8 million for the expanding speed and red light cameras.
  
• $1.6 million for school education programs.
  
• $1.6 million for community RoadWise programs.
  

For media enquiries, please contact Office of Colin Holt MLC on (08) 9724 1181

The campaign will be run during Yellow Ribbon National Road Safety Week which runs from 2-8 May 2016 across the country.

The Shine a Light on Road Safety campaign originated in Victoria in 2013 and spread throughout the rest of Australia for the first time last year.
It’s a timely reminder given the recent horrific road crash statistics that WA has recorded already for 2016.

The Road Safety Commission’s report for the first quarter of 2016 revealed that 52 people died on our roads between January 1 and March 31st – with young males, those in country areas and motorcycle riders over represented in the crash data.

Road Trauma Support is asking all motorists to Shine a Light on Road Safety by switching on their headlights on Friday May 6th to raise awareness about road safety and to share the hashtag #shinealightonroadsafety.

Road Trauma Support WA is also working alongside the SARAH group (Safer Australian Roads and Highways) to raise awareness of Yellow Ribbon Road Safety Week by illuminating notable Australian landmarks across the country.

Perth will join other State capitals by illuminating iconic city buildings during the week, with Perth’s Council House and The Bell Tower to be lit up and for the first time Elizabeth Quay will be illuminated in yellow on May 2 and 3 to help Shine a Light on Road Safety in 2016.

Road Trauma Support WA’s Patron and the director of the WA State Trauma Unit at Royal Perth Hospital, Dr Sudhakar Rao has thrown his support behind the campaign as it works to try to effect positive behavioural changes on our roads.

“I personally treat the physical devastation that road trauma wreaks on far too many people in our community.

“If we can all Shine a Light on Road Safety I know that together we can all make a difference,” Dr Rao said.

Shine a Light on Road Safety is a national campaign to raise awareness about road safety, to try and stop deaths and injuries on our roads and to highlight the effects on the thousands in our community affected by road trauma each year.

“Sadly issues surrounding road safety and its impact are more timely than ever given the Road Safety  Commission’s first report for 2016 which shows that already 52 people have died unnecessarily on our roads,” according to Injury Control Council of WA Chief Executive Venessa Wells.
 
“Unfortunately our staff at Road Trauma Support WA see first-hand how devastating and far-reaching the impacts of road trauma can be which makes campaigns like Shine a Light on Road Safety all the more relevant.”
 
One of the key messages for Shine a Light on Road Safety 2016 is to #stopdrivingblind and we are asking as many West Australians as possible to share the hashtag across various social media channels.
 
 We need help raising awareness about the Shine a Light on Road Safety campaign and Road Trauma Support WA and the work we do in the West Australian community.

Road Trauma Support WA is a free service offering support to all West Australians directly or indirectly affected by road trauma.

There are still many West Australians out there who don’t know we exist and it is important for more people to know that we are out there and that they have support if and when they need it.

Please join us and turn on your headlights on Friday May 6 and  #shinealightonroadsafety , #rtswa , #stopdrivingblind.


For further information or media enquiries please contact :
Georgia Sweeting
Communications Coordinator
Road Trauma Support WA
Phone : 08 9420 7262
Email : gsweeting@iccwa.org.au
web : www.rtswa.org.au