Blue Mountains City Council is supporting the 2016 Yellow Ribbon National Road Safety Week and is asking the community to join in the Stop Driving Blind campaign to promote safer Australian roads and highways.
“Blue Mountains City Council is proud to continue its support for Yellow Ribbon National Road Safety Week, a commendable initiative of Safer Australian Roads and Highways (SARAH),” said Blue Mountains mayor, Mark Greenhill.
“The need for safer roads is shared across Australia but is of particular importance to the Blue Mountains community which uses a major highway on a daily basis as a local road.”
This year’s Yellow Ribbon campaign, Stop Driving Blind, has a focus on eliminating distractions while driving.
SARAH President, Peter Frazer, said “with distraction playing an ever increasing role in road crashes, this Yellow Ribbon Road Safety Week we are asking residents to pledge to Stop Driving Blind”.
“Whether you are an experienced or novice driver, please put down your mobile, remove distractions and concentrate on the road ahead. Drive as if your family is on the road ahead.”
Yellow Ribbon National Road Safety Week is a response to the tragic death of Blue Mountains resident, Sarah Frazer. After her car broke down on the Hume Highway in 2012, both Ms Frazer, and the tow truck driver assisting her, were side-swiped by a truck and killed.
“The week is about education and commitment,” said Peter Frazer. “We are asking all drivers and riders to display yellow ribbons on vehicles to show they are committed to actively protecting all road users. It also shows that they stand in solidarity with those who have been injured or killed in road crashes.”
While Yellow Ribbon National Road Safety Week is concerned with all vulnerable road users, a primary focus will be on emergency services personnel, tow truck drivers, road workers and roadside assistance.
“We all have a shared responsibility to ensure our roads are safe. By displaying a yellow ribbon or sticker on your vehicle you can show your active commitment to drive so others survive,” said the mayor.
Council will promote the 2016 Yellow Ribbon National Road Safety Week by displaying yellow ribbons on fleet vehicles, raising community awareness via social media, and providing an outlet for yellow ribbons to be available to the public.
SARAH’s mission is to promote ‘Vision Zero’ - a road system that eliminates fatalities and serious injuries for road users and pedestrians by encouraging improved on-road behaviour.
Yellow ribbons and other Yellow Ribbon National Road Safety Week items are available by donation at council’s customer service counter in Katoomba and Springwood, and can be purchased from local Blue Mountains businesses (listed onwww.sarahgroup.org).
More information about the work of the SARAH Group, Yellow Ribbon National Road Safety Week, and to take the road safety pledge visit www.sarahgroup.org.
