Federal Member for Macquarie, Susan Templeman, and Safer Australian Roads and Highways (SARAH) president Peter Frazer are asking all Australians to honour those we have lost on our roads and highways on Sunday, November 19 - World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims.
“At midday this Sunday, we ask Australians to pause for a moment, to both remember the 1.3 million people killed each year on the world’s roads, and to also reflect on the tragedy that occurs across our nation,” Ms Templeman said.
“With 1,295 of our fellow Australians killed, 35,000 seriously injured and, at a conservative cost of $30,000,000,000 in 2016, the road statistics are outrageous.”
The intention of World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims day is to remember the many millions killed and injured on the world’s roads, together with their families and many others also affected, as well as reflect on the tremendous burden and cost of this daily continuing disaster.
“Too often when a road tragedy is reported, the headline is that an anonymous person has been killed, and as a result, traffic is banked up delaying commuters,” said Mr Frazer, whose daughter Sarah was killed in a car accident on the Hume Highway in 2012.
“Because the stories behind these statistics are hidden from public view, we know our community can become desensitised. But speak with our emergency service workers about what they face each day, or listen as family and friends tell of the horror they must endure, and it is impossible not to be moved.
“Our nation has always come together to help one another and comfort those in need. So in recognising this national tragedy, it’s time to give Australians a simple way to show they stand in solidarity,” he said.
“By simply tying a yellow ribbon to your vehicle you can publicly demonstrate that you honour those who have been affected by road tragedy and that you choose to actively look after those on the road ahead.
“By honouring the 1200@1200, and then pledging to ‘DRIVE So Others Survive!’ you are making a real difference to road safety for us all,” Mr Frazer said.
