Parliamentary Friends of Road Safety Statement

11/05/2017

Parliamentary Friends of Road Safety Statement

This week marks the commencement of two very important initiatives; National Road Safety Week and the fourth UN Global Road Safety week.

Today, Parliamentarians will wear yellow ribbons in honour of the lives lost on our roads, in conjunction with the Safer Australian Roads and Highways, the Australian Road Safety Foundation and the Australasian College of Road Safety.

Sadly, last year we had a rise in our national road toll with 1,300 losing their lives on our roads. Thousands of people were also injured on our roads through road accidents. We must acknowledge and thank members of the police force, fire service, and importantly ambulance officers, who are often first on the scene and confronted with the harsh reality of road accidents.

It is also important to acknowledge the many road safety organisations and bodies around our country, who continue to work tirelessly to improve road safety outcomes.

Australia is not alone. Globally, road safety is a major issue. A World Health Organisation (WHO) report was published 2016 and sadly revealed 1.25 million deaths occurred on the globe’s roads in 2013.

The Parliamentary Friends of Road Safety wants Australia to take the lead in road safety by adopting the highest possible standards in road design, vehicle design/technology and enforcement. By adopting the highest possible standards, we hope to be a shining light in the Asia Pacific region and reduce the road toll and injuries here in Australia and around the globe.

That is why the Parliamentary Friends of Road Safety will strongly advocate and push for measures that set an ambitious target to have road deaths reduced to zero.

Co-Chairs Parliamentary Friends of Road Safety

Senator Alex Gallacher                 Llew O’Brien MP

Senator for South Australia             Member for Wide Bay