BE SAFE ON REGIONAL AND RURAL ROADS EVERY DAY

Federal Member for Riverina Michael McCormack is urging regional and rural road users to put safety first as the weather warms up and some COVID restrictions ease in regional and rural areas.

This month is Rural Road Safety Month and, as farmers across the Riverina and Central West prepare for harvest season, Mr McCormack is imploring drivers to remain vigilant.

“As a former Minister for Transport who had responsibility for road safety matters and a journalist who attended and reported on road accidents, I know all too well the devastating impact road accidents have on local communities and the importance of keeping safe on our roads,” Mr McCormack said.

“During my time as Deputy Prime Minister, the Office of Road Safety was established on 1 July 2019 to help meet the goal of reducing road trauma on our roads – one death is one death too many.

“Rural road crashes account for more than 65 per cent of the national road toll, which is why it is so important drivers, whether they are travelling on a road they know by heart or for the first time, need to take steps to make sure they get to where they are heading safely.

“Drive to survive – take breaks when you are tired, drive to the conditions – no-one wants to have an empty seat at the family dinner table where a loved one once sat.

“Improving road safety is something we all need to play a part in to ensure we all take practical measures to drive road deaths and trauma towards zero.”

Rural Road Safety Month is an annual national awareness campaign targeting regional and rural road safety.

“We should all put road safety at the top of our minds when driving, not just during Rural Road Safety Month,” Mr McCormack said.

“We do not want any more heartbreaking stories of lives needlessly lost on our roads.

“The Federal Government has invested $3 billion to the Road Safety Program as a solid commitment to reduce the number of deaths and serious injuries on our roads.”