Road users are being encouraged to think about how their driving affects others during National Road Safety Week.
Member for the Dubbo electorate Dugald Saunders saidcountry people make up a third of NSW’s population, but last year deaths on country roads made up more than two-thirds of our road toll.
“Between 2015 and 2019, 60 people were killed on roads in the Dubbo electorate, which unfortunately places us in the top 10 when it comes to all of NSW,” Mr Saunders said.
“These deaths echo through the community and are felt by so many other people – family and friends, work colleagues, community groups and emergency services personnel.”
Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Paul Toole said more than 1,200 lives are lost on the nation’s roads each year.
“More than 260 people have died on our roads this year. Any death on our roads is one death too many. The road toll is every driver’s responsibility and unfortunately speeding, drink and drug driving and fatigue remain our biggest killers,” Mr Toole said.
“While the NSW Government is making record investment to make our roads the safest in the world, we can’t do it alone, so we’re asking everyone to take the pledge to drive so others survive.”
National Road Safety Week is coordinated by Safer Australian Roads and Highways (SARAH), an organisation launched by Peter Frazer following the tragic loss of his daughter Sarah in a crash in February 2012.
The Sydney Harbour Bridge will be lit yellow throughout the week with Towards Zero and yellow ribbon graphics projected onto the pylons until Sunday, 22 November. For more information please visit: www.roadsafetyweek.com.au