Letter to the Editor | Take the pledge, make roads safer

Let’s imagine that during this coming week, which is National Road Safety Week, there will be no lives lost on our roads.

RoadSafe Goulburn Valley would like to remind all that we can, as individuals, take some measures to ensure that we and our loved ones are safer on regional roads.

Let’s make that pledge to drive in a safe manner: devoid of distractions such as mobile phones, that ‘I certainly will not put others in danger because of my risky behaviour by speeding, driving while tired, or under the influence of alcohol and drugs’.

Attitude and behaviour are the keywords. Can we not proffer some common courtesy towards others? Yes, the journey may take a fraction longer; however, you will not put vulnerable road users, especially those whose jobs place them in harm’s way, by slowing down and giving them adequate space they need to be safe.

Road statistics indicate that approximately 70 per cent of collisions will be locals on local roads. Is that complacency or lack of attention?

It could be many things. We know our roads, but we shouldn’t take our eyes and minds away from the responsibility of operating a motor vehicle in a safe manner.

The other 30 per cent appear to be from outside our region and, therefore, at greater risk because of the “unknown” of road conditions, environment and infrastructure in and around poor-to-very-poor roads and intersections.

Wishing everyone a safe National Road Safety Week, and please let’s make this the start of reducing the number of lives lost on our roads, so that our first responders also have a break.

I have made that pledge — will you?