Drivers travelling in the Dubbo electorate are being urged to slow down this Rural Road Safety Month, with more than two-thirds of the lives lost on NSW roads occurring in the country.
Member for the Dubbo electorate Dugald Saunders said preliminary figures show nine people were killed or injured in crashes on the electorate’s roads in 2019, while 57 were killed and 362 seriously injured in the five years from 2014/15 to 2018/19.
“Every one of these deaths and serious injuries has had a devastating impact on families, friends and communities,” Mr Saunders said.
“As a broadcaster I spent years reporting on these accidents and how they affect people’s lives. It’s horrific, and I’m determined to help spread the message about road safety
“Whether you’re a driver, passenger, rider or pedestrian, every decision you make on the road matters, and we all have a responsibility to make safe choices.”
Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Paul Toole recently launched Rural Road Safety Month, an initiative of the Australian Road Safety Foundation, with campaign advocate, NSW State of Origin coach Brad Fittler.
“Every time you get behind the wheel, the choices we make can have fatal consequences,” Mr Toole said.
“Every life lost or serious injury suffered represents a family, a friend and a community that is impacted. Speeding remains the biggest contributor to road fatalities, accounting for 39 per cent of fatalities last year.
“The NSW Government is committed to making roads safer for everyone, which is why we’re investing more than $640 million in the Safer Roads Program for regional NSW, along with $140 million from the Federal Government to roll out life-saving projects.”
Information on Rural Road Safety Month is here: https://arsf.com.au/rrsw-home/
Safer Roads program: https://roadsafety.transport.nsw.gov.au/stayingsafe/safer-roads/index.html