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Last Updated: Thursday, 25 May 2023 15:19

Published: Thursday, 25 May 2023 15:12

Zero deaths on Australian roads for one day.

That is the annual Fatality Free Friday objective for this year’s (May 26, 2023) national road safety campaign.

To highlight the brutal reality behind road crash figures, emergency services placed a wrecked vehicle at the centre of the campaign launch outside Grand Central.

Against the mock accident backdrop, Toowoomba Regional Council today (May 25, 2023) reaffirmed the road safety pledge with the Queensland Police Service, the Queensland Fire and Emergency Service, the Queensland Ambulance Service, the Department of Transport and Main Roads and community road safety education organisations ahead of Fatality Free Friday tomorrow.

Toowoomba Region Mayor Paul Antonio said Council was pleased to renew its pledge and determined to raise road safety awareness and work toward saving lives on our roads.

“Fatality Free Friday sharpens our focus on collective and individual responsibilities for all road users – including pedestrians, cyclists, public transport passengers, motorcyclists and motorists – so we’re very proud to be supporting this initiative,” Mayor Antonio said.

“It is estimated that the cost of 24 fatal traffic crashes across the Darling Downs Police district in 2022 equated to approximately $77 million in community costs, let alone the family anguish and emotional trauma that is caused through each death.”

TRC Infrastructure Services Committee chair Cr Carol Taylor said the organisations were asking all road users to give their full attention to the road and surrounding conditions on every journey.

“There is no room for complacency. Please remember to avoid taking risks behind the wheel as you not only endanger your own life, but the lives of your passengers, other motorists and road users around you,” Cr Taylor said.

“Council stays committed to improving road safety through better engineering of our road projects and advocating for road safety education.

“Council is working to update its Road Safety Strategy. This refresh will ensure that our strategy serves as an action plan that helps Council, our key stakeholders and the community participate in road safety initiatives across the Region.

“Council will keep advocating to state and federal governments to reverse the reduction in road funding in real terms for regional and rural roads. Increasing funding for road infrastructure projects is vital to keep pace with higher traffic volumes and community expectations.

“As we ramp up work on our permanent reconstruction works under our current Flood Recovery Program, I ask motorists to please be patient and observe all roadwork signs to ensure everyone goes home to their loved ones.

“Council is progressing Black Spot program work in Toowoomba to construct a roundabout with raised pedestrian crossings at the Perth-Curzon Streets intersection, with work starting in the coming week to upgrade traffic signals at the Bridge-Hume Streets intersection. Final designs are almost completed to provide traffic signals at the Margaret-Mackenzie Streets intersection.

“Council has also recently been awarded funding for two new upgrade projects at the Holberton-Bridge Street and Margaret-West Street intersections.

“In the past year Council, together with our road safety partners, has taken action to help our community to be safer on the road.”

Some of these actions include: Speed limit reductions are being implemented on Hume Street, north of Chalk Drive; Hursley Road (east of Tor Street), and Wyalla Street. Council is also reviewing other road corridors in urban areas.

TRC Infrastructure Services portfolio leader and Regional Active and Public Transport Advisory Committee chair Cr Melissa Taylor said Council supported and promoted a range of road safety initiatives such as National Road Safety Week and Queensland Road Safety Week, National Ride Safely to School Day and today’s Fatality Free Friday event.

“Council has applied for funding to improve safety near schools under the School Transport Infrastructure Program and will undertake a road safety review in Lindsay Street, between Bridge and Margaret Streets,” Cr Melissa Taylor said.

“This review will include a road safety audit, speed assessment review and a parking review. We will assess what measures can be implemented to increase safety for pedestrians, cyclists, visitors, and different park users, including children on bikes and scooters.”

Caption: Queensland Fire and Emergency Services Inspector Hemmo de Vries (left), Toowoomba Region Mayor Paul Antonio, Queensland Police Service Superintendent Douglas McDonald (officer in charge Darling Downs), Queensland Ambulance Service Inspector Stephen Johns and TRC Infrastructure Services Committee chair Cr Carol Taylor stress road safety messages to highlight Fatality Free Friday.

BACKGROUND: Fatality Free Friday is an Australian Road Safety Foundation community effort targeted to achieve a fatality free Friday for one day across the whole country.

Since its inception in 2007, the campaign has continued to expand its operation and is recognised as Australia’s only national, community-based road safety program.

Statistically, the highest number of deaths occur on Australian roads on Fridays with 21% of all road deaths occurring on Fridays. The campaign is more than a single day. While the target is to have a fatality free Friday, ultimately it aims for longer term community change in driver behaviour.

To date, more than 482,387 road safety pledges have been signed.

For more information about Fatality Free Friday, please visit: https://arsf.com.au/