National Road Safety Week
Published on 20 May 2022
It is National Road Safety Week this week (15-22 May) and a time to reflect on the impact of road trauma and how we can make our roads safer for everyone. The theme for 2022 is: ‘It’s everyone’s right to get home safely.’
Road trauma can have a devastating and long lasting impact on everyone involved. Each year, more than 1200 lives are lost in road crashes across Australia and more than 44,000 people are seriously injured. In 2020 alone, 102 people were killed or injured locally on Mid-Western Region roads.
Council’s Road Safety Officer, Sam Cecchini said Council, along with other road safety organisations and government agencies, are committed to improving road safety in the region and making a pledge to road safety.
“The pledge asks you to drive as if your loved ones are on the road ahead. It includes not using your mobile phone while driving, slowing down, not driving tired or under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and protecting vulnerable road users by giving them the space they need to be safe,” Ms Cecchini said.
As more visitors travel to our region, including sporting teams from across NSW, local clubs have put their support behind the road safety pledge, including Mudgee District Netball Association, Mudgee Junior Rugby League, Mudgee Gulgong Wolves Football Club and Mudgee District Hockey Association.
A/Sergeant, Garry McGovern from Mudgee Highway Patrol said sporting teams can drive all over NSW to compete in the games they love which creates a risk for driver fatigue, animal strikes and distractions.
“I urge all motorists to focus on road safety and slow down, stay alert, and drive so others survive,” he said. “You too can make this pledge to road safety by visiting the National Road Safety Week website at www.roadsafetyweek.com.au.”
The colour yellow is associated with National Road Safety Week and you may see people wearing yellow ribbons or yellow stickers on Council’s fleet of vehicles. Displaying and wearing yellow ribbons both honours those we have lost and reminds us all to drive safely.
Free yellow lapel pins are available from Council’s customer service counter in Mudgee so you too can wear a yellow ribbon for NRSW in May. National Road Safety Week is supported by Mid-Western Regional Council, Transport for NSW and Mudgee Highway Patrol.