Australia Lights Up in Yellow for NRSW

Australians asked to become road safety warriors and Drive So Others Survive

Australia, Saturday 15 May: Across Australia, the country’s favourite buildings, bridges and icons will light up yellow every night of this National Road Safety Week (16 – 23 May) in remembrance of the 1,200 lives lost, and more than 39,000 people seriously injured on Australia’s roads each year.

Created by Peter Frazer of the Safer Australian Roads and Highways (SARAH) Group after his 23-year-old daughter was tragically killed in a car crash, the Week which is supported by the Commonwealth, State, Territory and Local Governments as well as key road safety organisations and corporate partners, uses several activities to ask all road users to become road safety warriors and think about how they can actively protect all those who are vulnerable on the road ahead.

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 so grateful for each 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.

“Unfortunately, despite our best efforts more than 11,000 Australians have been killed and over 360,000 seriously injured since my beautiful daughter Sarah was killed in February 2012.”

“It is simply not acceptable that these tragedies are seen as regrettable but normal situations. As these crashes are avoidable, we need to do more to ensure they do not happen and where they do occur, the outcomes must not be so serious as to maim or kill innocent people”.

“Our ‘Drive So Others Survive!’ theme asks everyone on the road to monitor their own behaviours and ensure the safety of all people on the road ahead, especially vulnerable road users. So, we are asking the Australian community to step up and become ‘Road Safety Warriors’ who not only make the safety of others their priority but also their influence their family, friends and work colleagues to do the same”.  

“While we must build our road systems to keep us moving, they must also be designed to protect us at every turn. Our infrastructure and our road rules need to be designed to ensure that all road users get home safe, and just as important, we need a significant cultural change from drivers and riders to commit to actively protect all those on the road ahead”.

“By working together, we can get everyone home safe to their loved ones, every day, with no exceptions!”

To be launched nationally by the Hon Vincent Tarzia MP, Minister for Police, Emergency Services and Correctional Services in South Australia, National Road Safety Week sees hundreds of initiatives across the country encouraging Australians to commit to get everyone on the roads home safely.

There are many ways Australians can participate in the Week, and local events can be found at www.roadsafetyweek.com.au.

How to get involved

●        Take an online pledge to drive safely at www.roadsafetyweek.com.au

●        Discuss driving safely with your family, friends, and colleagues

●        Wear a yellow ribbon lapel badge, yellow ribbon, or display a vehicle sticker available from (https://www.roadsafetyweek.net.au/road-safety-week)

●        Promote your support for National Road Safety Week on social media using #NRSW or #DriveSoS hashtag or share social content from National Road Safety Week and the SARAH Group

Each day of the week will focus on a different area of road safety.

Daily themes

●        Sunday 16 May: Remember the 1200: Too many lives are lost on our road, today we remember those lost on our roads & highways

●        Monday 17 May: Protecting every life: Take care of vulnerable road users such as pedestrians, school children, elderly people, and families

●        Tuesday 18 May: Take the Pledge – Lead the way: Lead the pledge to drive so others survive and sign up online at roadsafetyweek.com.au

●        Wednesday 19 May: Move Over/Slow Down: Protect those who protect us by slowing down and giving them the space need to stay safe. This includes police, emergency services, roadside assistance, tow trucks, traffic controllers and other workers who use vehicles as a workplace.

●        Thursday 20 May: Save Lives – Slow Down: Reflecting the UN Road Safety Week theme ‘Speed’

●        Friday 21 May: Regional communities count: Drive so others survive in the country and city

●        Saturday 22 May: Share the road: Give cyclists and motorcyclists the space they need. Tie a yellow ribbon on you bike or wear a yellow vest for #YellowRide

●        Sunday 23 May: Arrive home safe: Get home safe for your loved ones.

National Road Safety Week Partners and Supporters

National Road Safety Week Principal Partners include the Australian Automobile Association, Altus Traffic, Ennis-Flint, Roads Australia, and Volvo Cars Australia while major supporters include 3M Australia, Australian Trucking Association, SG Fleet and MiX Telematics.

The Week is also supported by commonwealth, state and local governments, corporates, unions, education, road member associations and road safety organisations throughout Australia. 

ENDS