Queensland launches nationwide road safety campaign

Queensland landmarks will turn gold over the next seven days when the state hosts National Road Safety Week.

Landmarks across the state will bit lit in a bright gold colour from May 6 to 12, including the Story Bridge, Victoria Bridge, Sir Leo Hielscher Bridges (Gateway Motorway) and Parliament House to mark the nationwide campaign.

SARAH Group president Peter Frazer founded National Road Safety Week after his daughter Sarah was killed in a roadside crash on the Hume Highway in 2012, and will launch the week in Brisbane on Sunday night together with the Queensland Governor.

“Now in its seventh year, National Road Safety Week continues to grow across the country with the amazing support of government, councils, emergency services, road safety groups, corporate partners and the community,” Mr Frazer said.

"As the country turns yellow for the week, we implore all drivers to drive as if your loved ones are on the road ahead and make sure everyone gets home safely.

“We need to actively look after one another by choosing not to drive distracted, not to speed and certainly to never drive under the influence. I implore every single driver to take our pledge and drive so you and others survive.”

Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said it was a privilege to host National Road Safety Week and an important reminder for all Queenslanders about keeping safety front of mind when driving.

“Safety is the Palaszczuk Government’s motivation for continuing to commit funding to upgrade roads and work toward our target of no fatalities on Queensland roads,” Mr Bailey said.

“We’re investing more than $1.92 billion over the next four years to drive road safety across Queensland. Safety works vary from location to location but share a common goal – reducing Queensland’s road toll.

“In 2018, 245 lives were lost on Queensland roads. That’s 245 lives too many.

Nationally, more than 35,000 people are seriously injured in crashes each year.

“When a crash occurs, families and friends suffer, and the investigations into these terrible crashes are left to the brave emergency workers who wish each visit to one of these scenes will be their last.

“While we continue to invest in safer roads across the state, speeding, distraction, alcohol and drugs, fatigue and not wearing a seatbelt continue to be the major causes of death on our roads.

“We’re asking Queenslanders to lead the way by sticking to the rules and speed limits, and being courteous and tolerant, others will follow. Together we can make our roads safer.

"We stand in solidarity with road crash victims, their loved ones and all those affected by road trauma to look to a future where death and serious injury on our roads is a thing of the past.”

Mr Bailey said to coincide with National Road Safety Week, the Palaszczuk Government would launch its 2019 Community Road Safety Grants.

"The grants program has unlocked more than $14 million for grassroots initiatives and helps puts the power into the community's hands and enables them to deliver initiatives and ideas that can improve road safety for all Queenslanders.

To apply, or for information about Community Road Safety Grants, visit www.qld.gov.au and search "community road safety grants".

The week also aligns with the United Nations Global Road Safety Week and is the last to fall within the UN Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011-2020.

For more information about National Road Safety Week and to pledge your support, visit www.roadsafetyweek.net.au 

For more information on Queensland road safety initiatives and tips to drive save, visit https://streetsmarts.initiatives.qld.gov.au/

ENDS

Media Contact: Francis Dela Cruz - 0420 592 078