Logan City Council recently reaffirmed its commitment to reducing accidents on local roads. Last October, Council launched its two year road safety strategy – SafeRoads4Logan.
The unique strategy has seen Council partner with the Queensland Police Service, Department of Transport and Main Roads, RACQ, and Queensland Health to educate motorists and passengers about the risk of poor choices and to improve their awareness of their responsibilities as motorists.
SafeRoads4Logan will also focus considerable attention on improving safety around schools; addressing the recent increase in motorcycle related accidents on LoganÃs roads; raising awareness of the dangers of disobeying traffic signs; ensuring vehicles are roadworthy; investigating how to make pedestrians and cyclists safer; and improving road infrastructure.
Logan Mayor Pam Parker said the unique relationship forged by the SafeRoads4Logan initiative would save lives and make the roads throughout Logan City safer for all users.
"The objective is to simply create a city where everyone on our roads can travel in safety, respect the rights of others, and behave responsibly,’ she said.
"As part of this two year strategy, Council will work closely with transport industry related organisations to maximise road safety outcomes. It will also promote a culture of collaboration and coordination on this important topic throughout all levels of government, as well as complement any existing road safety campaigns conducted by any major State or national stakeholder.’
Councillor Parker said Council takes great pride in offering a city for families – with a lifestyle to match.
"But for us to keep doing this, we knew we had to get serious and do what we could to make our roads safer and subsequently reduce the rate of accidents, serious injury and fatalities on our roads,’ she said.
Deputy Mayor and Logan Road Safety Advisory Committee Chairman, Councillor Russell Lutton, said SafeRoads4Logan aims to reduce the road toll in Logan by ten per cent during its two year lifespan.
"While here in Logan the rate of serious accidents is lower than the State and national average, we want, and we can, do more,’ he said.
"Currently, the fatality rate for Logan is 5.2 deaths per 100,000 residents. We want to reduce this number by ten per cent.
"We want to do everything we can to make sure that when motorists and passengers get in their car, they reach their destination safely.’
Councillor Lutton said from 2003 to 2007, 124 serious crashes per 100,000 people in Logan were recorded.
"Drink driving, excessive speed, driving tired, failure to wear seatbelts, and disobeying traffic signals were the main contributors to fatalities and serious accidents in the city during this time,’ he said. "I acknowledge the goal of preventing serious accidents on roads is not new. Understandably, it is a major objective of governments and councils throughout Australia. But here in Logan, what we have achieved in getting the key stakeholders to work together is unique.
"Together, with the support of the community, we can work together to reduce the number of these accidents and save a lot of emotional damage to not only the loved ones in these accidents, but also the wonderful people in the emergency services and health system that encounter these traumatic events daily.
