Community education, advocacy and collaboration with community and government organisations is the way to improve road safety outcomes according to the Safer Australian Roads and Highways (SARAH) group.
The group has just signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the City of Launceston ahead of Yellow Ribbon National Road Safety Week in May. The document commits the two organisations to promoting road safety in numerous ways within the Launceston municipality.
The SARAH group was founded by Peter Frazer OAM, whose 23-year-old daughter Sarah was killed by a distracted truck driver in 2012 on the Hume Freeway in regional NSW.
Mr Frazer established National Road Safety Week the following year, which is now recognised annually by Federal, State and local governments across Australia.
City of Launceston Mayor Matthew Garwood said he was pleased the city was the first Tasmanian council to officially partner with the program.
“The City of Launceston is jumping at this opportunity to improve road safety outcomes in Northern Tasmania; it’s a specific goal set out in our Launceston Transport Strategy,” Mayor Garwood said.
“We hope through the involvement of Peter and the SARAH program in Launceston we can help promote safe road practices — not only during Yellow Ribbon National Road Safety Week, but every single day.”
Mr Frazer said the group was excited to be working with the city to promote positive road safety culture in Northern Tasmania.
“In the lead up to National Road Safety Week you will see all sorts of vehicles displaying Australia’s road safety symbol, the Yellow Ribbon as a reminder that we each have a responsibility to ‘Drive So Others Survive’,” Mr Frazer said.
“When you see a car, truck or bus flying a yellow ribbon from its aerials, or you see a yellow ribbon sticker on the rear of a vehicle, it has become a moving billboard for road safety.
“It’s the same with buildings, bridges and city icons which will also be illuminated yellow across Australia as part of Yellow Ribbon National Road Safety Week, between 5-12 May.
“So let those yellow ribbons and lights be a reminder that our shared task on our roads and highways is to actively protect the lives and health of every Tasmanian.”
