National Road Safety Week 2021, held from 16 to 23 May, aims to raise awareness of the number of people that are killed or injured in road crashes, and provide an opportunity for people and organisations to actively commit to safeguarding the lives and health of all road users, including pedestrians.
The week is an annual initiative from the Safer Australian Roads and Highways (SARAH) Group which was established by Peter Frazer after his 23-year-old daughter Sarah was killed in a road crash on the Hume Highway in February 2012. Sarah’s car broke down while travelling to Wagga Wagga to begin university.
Both Sarah and the tow truck driver were struck and killed by a distracted driver.
The colour yellow is associated with National Road Safety Week. Icons across the country will be lit up to shine a light on road safety. Displaying and wearing yellow ribbons both honours those we have lost and reminds us all to drive safely.
Narrandera Shire Council is holding a range of activities on Saturday 22 May at the Emergency Operations Centre for National Road Safety Week, including the opportunity to take the pledge to ‘drive so others survive’ and collect a yellow lapel ribbon.
The day will start with ‘Coffee for a Cyclist’ at 8am.
Riders of both bicycles and motorcycles are welcome to drop in for a coffee and a chat with Narrandera’s Road Safety Officer.
This will be followed by a free Helping Learner Drivers Become Safer Drivers Workshop from 9-10am. This is for anyone who will be supervising a learner driver including parents, relatives, friends and carers of the learner driver. Attending supervising drivers will receive a $30 voucher towards a driving lesson for their learner with a local instructor.
At 10am everyone is welcome to come for a ‘Coffee with a Cop’. The coffee van will be on hand to provide coffee while you chat and ask any questions you have about road rules and road safety.
Finishing up Saturday’s activities will be a ‘Child Restraint Checking’ session from 11am to 1pm.
Come along to have your child restraints checked by authorised restraint fitter, Rodney Flanagan from Safari Motors. As well as having their restraints checked the children can enjoy a free ride on the Lions Train.
Alcohol related crashes are an issue on our roads and Narrandera Shire Council will be offering a subsidised Responsible Service of Alcohol course on Sunday May 23 to help address this issue.
A Seniors Road Safety Workshop will be held during the week, which provides information and tips to improve safety when on or near the roads. The workshop includes information and checklists for all road use, whether driving, riding, walking, catching public transport or using a mobility scooter.
Everyone is encouraged to take the following pledge to drive so others survive.
I pledge to drive as if my loved ones are on the road ahead.
I will remove all distractions and never use my mobile phone while driving.
I will not put other people at risk by speeding, driving while tired or under the influence of drugs/alcohol.
I will protect all vulnerable road users, especially those whose job places them in harm’s way, by slowing down and giving them the space they need to be safe.
Everyone has a role to play in reducing the number of preventable and foreseeable deaths and traumatic injuries on our roads. For more information on National Road Safety Week or to take the pledge visit www.roadsafetyweek.com.au
For more information on NRSW activities in Narrandera contact Narrandera Shire Council or visit Councils Facebook page. For some activities bookings are required and numbers are limited. Lapel ribbons will be available to the public from Council’s customer service area.