Police, politicians and road safety advocates have used the first day of Road Safety Week to warn drivers they will be caught if they drink drive.
They have also urged drivers to keep cautious on the road, avoid distractions and pull over as soon as they start feeling fatigued.
Mandurah police sergeant Lloyd Ellis said Road Safety Week gave police an opportunity to address the public on road safety awareness, but there was no excuse for people drink driving at any point in the year.
“Clearly this week is a week when that message gets out there, but really people should be taking the message seriously every time they are on the road,” Sgt Ellis said.
“Most people are aware of the rules, and follow them. But we still see people who are ignorant of it or don’t care, and obviously that’s when we see problems.”
The comments come after a 19-year-old was pulled over in Pinjarra over the weekend, driving without a license, with a blood alcohol level of 0.077 and with her two children in the back seat.
“It amazes us that people still take these chances. We need to get the message out there that it’s just not on,” Sgt Ellis said.
Members of Australian Automobile Association, Altus Traffic Australia, Road Safety Education Ltd and Safer Australian Roads and Highways (SARAH) met with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull today, as well as other members of office,
According to national statistics, road deaths have climbed by 11 per cent over the past 12 months, sparking concern from road safety organisations over driver fatigue and distraction.
As part of Road Safety Week the government in conjunction with thos eorganisaitons have launched the Stop Driving Blind campaign.
“With more than 1200 Australians killed and over 30,000 seriously injured last year, it is of grave concern that these numbers are now increasing,” SARAH president Peter Frazer said.
“But these statistics tell us nothing about the personal stories of those involved, of our emergency services personnel who become traumatised by what they see, of the parents and partners left to identify their loved ones, and of the sad legacy faced by family and friends for the rest of their lives.”
Australians are being asked to support the message of Road Safety Weel, as well as the work of emergency services, road trauma councellors and others through the Road Safety Pledge.
You can sign the page at the SARAH group’s website.
