GREATER Shepparton City Council will light up several of its assets in yellow to mark National Road Safety Week 2024, in a bid to highlight the importance of road safety and the devastating impact of road trauma.
National Road Safety Week, from May 5-11, led by SARAH Group in collaboration with road safety organisations and the Australian Government, aims to raise awareness of road trauma and strategies to reduce it.
Every year, approximately 1,200 people are killed and over 40,000 are seriously injured on Australian roads. Traffic injury is the biggest killer of Australian children under 15 and the second-biggest killer of all Australians aged between 15 and 24. These numbers are growing every year, but they are preventable.
Each day during National Road Safety Week has a unique theme focused around improving road safety for motorists, pedestrians, cyclists, emergency services and roadside workers.
The community is urged to sign the Road Safety Pledge on the National Road Safety Week website, with over 61,900 signatures nationwide already recorded.
Special events include the launch of the School Crossing Education Program on May 7, aiming to instil safe road habits in young children across Greater Shepparton. National Walk Safely to School Day on May 10 promotes safe commuting among primary school students, encouraging participation in a Facebook event with prizes.
Mayor, Councillor Shane Sali, encouraged residents to take part in these awareness initiatives being held during National Road Safety Week and to take the pledge to drive so others survive.
“I encourage all road users across Greater Shepparton to reflect on how we can create better driving habits to make the roads safer for everyone. We have seen too many tragic accidents on our roads. By working together, we can make a difference and save lives,” Cr Sali said.
