The IPWEA/RTA Local Government Road Safety Project works to raise the priority of road safety in Local Government. This is achieved through support for Council road safety strategic planning, the administration of funding for local road safety initiatives, and through the presentation of annual Local Government Excellence in Road Safety Awards to recognise outstanding Council achievements. The IPWEA/RTA Project is one element of the NSW Local Government Road Safety Program conducted as part of Road Safety 2010, a framework for increasing road safety in NSW over the next decade.
Local Government Excellence in Road Safety Awards
In 2001 the Local Government Excellence in Road Safety Awards attracted 22 nominations from some 34 Councils across NSW. The awards are sponsored by the Motor Accidents Authority and are presented as one category of the IPWEA Excellence Awards. This year projects promoting realistic alternatives to drink driving ‘scooped the pool’. As drink driving remains a factor in one in six fatal road crashes there is a need to maintain efforts directed towards helping people separate their drinking from their driving. For further information on these awards contact Julie Edwards, Road Safety Project Manager, telephone (02) 8267 3012.
WINNER Albury City Council Arrive Home Safely
This award winning project targeted businesses holding workplace parties to reduce drink driving and help workers to get home safely.Following police concerns regarding the number of drink drive incidents recorded after local work place parties, particularly during the festive season, Council liaised with WorkCover and the taxi company to develop a project to assist businesses to arrange safer celebrations.
Businesses hosting work place parties were encouraged to register with the Arrive Home Safely program. Registration involved supplying information about the party and answering questions about alcohol consumption and transport arrangements. Survey responses could then form the basis of a safer party plan. Registered businesses had access to an ‘alcoliser’ for their party and were provided with promotional materials including party safe information and taxi vouchers.
Around 90 local businesses registered with the Program with a substantial number now promoting or updating policy to ensure safer workplace parties. All participating businesses have expressed interest in taking part in the program in the future. Running concurrently with Arrive Home Safely was a media campaign concentrating on drink driving issues and alternative transport strategies, and also a police enforcement operation.
In making the award the judges noted that ‘the project nomination described a well planned and implemented campaign incorporating strategies to encourage workplace policy change for increased road safety’.
HIGHLY COMMENDED Campbelltown City, Wollondilly Shire and Camden Councils Macarthur PartySafe Project
This project reflects the efforts of three neighbouring Councils, Campbelltown, Wollondilly and Camden in the Macarthur area of south western Sydney, as well as education and health personnel. It worked to involve young people in planning for safer celebrations particularly around the end of the year.
Macarthur PartySafe worked through schools to support young people in identifying the risks associated with a range of end of year celebrations, including ‘after parties’ which often follow school formal celebrations. Drink driving emerged as a major concern and plans and subsequent actions focused on reducing the likelihood of drink driving after ‘end of year’ parties. Activities included the provision of taxi vouchers and in some cases special event buses.
Seven local schools prepared action plans and 23 high schools, and interested stakeholders, now have access to a report detailing how the project was developed and implemented as well as sample action plans as models of good practice for safer celebrations.
The project was highly commended for its systematic involvement of Councils, schools and health workers to support young people to plan to have fun without taking unnecessary risks.
HIGHLY COMMENDED Cessnock, Coffs Harbour, Gosford, Greater Taree, Lake Macquarie, Lismore, Maitland, Newcastle and Tamworth City Councils, Ballina, Dungog, Gloucester, Tweed and Wyong Shire Councils, and Great Lakes and Port Stephens Councils Drinks Without Dramas
The Drinks Without Dramas project received a high commendation. This project worked with representatives of health, police, licensees and the media to provide a practical alternative to drink driving for drinkers from the Hunter to the northern NSW border.
Patrons of licensed premises were encouraged to take responsibility for their safety by planning in advance to ensure that they would travel home with a sober driver. Nominated drivers electing not to drink were provided with free soft drinks as part of the initiative. Some 370 licensed venues from Gosford to the Tweed took part in the project and patrons were encouraged to participate through coordinated local media campaigns. Drinks Without Dramas also benefited from the support of high profile local identities including elected officials.
Award judges noted ‘the nomination describes a project which is unique in its cooperative approach across two large regions while retaining industry partnerships at the local level’.
