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RoadWise
Road Safety Newsletter |
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| MARCH 2016 |
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In this issue...
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| Blessing of the Roads events |
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| Many Local Governments, RoadWise Committees and organisations will be hosting Blessing of the Roads events in the lead up to the Easter long weekend. |
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These events will help raise road safety awareness in communities around Western Australia by reminding individuals to:
- Turn off your mobile phone before driving.
- Travel at a safe speed - adapt your speed for the weather, light, and traffic and road conditions.
- Belt up when travelling in a vehicle.
- If you are planning to drink, arrange a skipper, organise public transport or stay overnight.
- Take a break, have a rest, or if possible swap drivers - fatigue is a silent killer. Stop at one of the many Coffee Stop providers or operating Driver Reviver sites across Western Australia (visit www.roadwise.asn.au for locations).
Known Blessing of the Roads events include:
| Region |
Organisation |
Location |
Date |
Time |
Other information |
| Goldfields-Esperance |
Shire of Esperance RoadWise Committee |
Jetty Headland |
Friday,
18 March |
7.00am |
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| Metro North |
Cities of Swan, Stirling and Joondalup |
Altone Park Oval, 332 Benara Rd, Beechboro |
Saturday, 19 March |
12.45pm – 1.30pm |
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| Wheatbelt South |
Shire of Quairading |
Under the pine tree at the Tourist and Tidy Town Centre |
Saturday, 19 March |
4.00pm |
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| South West |
Shire of Donnybrook Balingup |
Donnybrook’s Station Markets |
Saturday, 19 March |
10.30am |
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| Metro North |
City of Wanneroo |
Grassed entry statement, Carramar Golf Club Estate, intersection of Wanneroo Road and Joondalup Drive, Tapping |
Monday, 21 March |
10.00am - 11.30am |
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| Great Southern |
North Albany Senior High School |
North Albany Senior High School |
Monday, 21 March |
12.00pm – 1.00pm |
Invitation only |
| Wheatbelt South |
Shire of Bruce Rock |
Slip road outside Amphitheatre |
Wednesday, 23 March |
3.30pm |
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| Wheatbelt North |
Shire of Victoria Plains |
Great Northern Highway (roadside adjacent to the church)
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Thursday, 24 March |
10.00am |
Blessing will be conducted by the Abbott of the Benedictine Community church followed by morning tea at the New Norcia Hotel |
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For an up-to-date list of events and further information on the Blessing of the Roads campaign, visit www.roadwise.asn.au/blessing-of-the-roads.aspx.
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| New participants help fight fatigue |
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| The WALGA RoadWise Program would like to recognise its newest Coffee Stop and Driver Reviver participants. |
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Last month the Tenterden Top-Up, located at the corner of Albany Highway and Brooking Street in Tenterden, signed up to participate in the Coffee Stop program, providing motorists with another location in the Great Southern to stop, take a break and enjoy a free cup of coffee.
Deanne Wills, part-owner of the Tenterden Top-Up, expressed the importance of being a part of the Coffee Stop program, helping to combat fatigue related road trauma.
“We see so many people come in clearly showing signs of fatigue. We just want to make sure everyone gets where they’re going safely,” said Deanne.
The Tenterden Top-Up joins a number of participating Coffee Stop providers located around the state, providing travellers with a free cup of coffee and a chance to prevent the onset of fatigue.
Pictured above: Tenterden Top-Up owners, Deanne and Murphy Wills proudly supporting Coffee Stop; Horse and rider taking advantage of the new Collie Driver Reviver operation.
The new South West region Collie Driver Reviver has also been in operation, with even the animals stopping in for a rest!
The Shire of Collie’s Community Safety and Crime Prevention Committee and the Collie Rotary Club set up a Driver Reviver on the Coalfields Highway where local volunteers provided travellers with free refreshments and a chance to take a break and stretch their legs. |
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| A number of Driver Reviver sites will be in operation this Easter long weekend. Visit www.roadwise.asn.au for a list of operating locations. For a list of Coffee Stop locations, visit the Coffee Stop page of the RoadWise website at www.roadwise.asn.au. |
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| "The difference between life and death" - a simple explanation of the safe system approach to road safety |
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| As members of the community road safety network, we work towards achieving a safe system in Western Australia every day. |
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What can be challenging, is explaining the safe system approach to others in a clear, simple way.
A video developed by the New Zealand Government and titled "The difference between life and death" is a helpful tool for learning more about the theory behind the safe system approach.
The New Zealand Government is implementing Safer Journeys, the Government's strategy to guide improvements in road safety over the period 2010 to 2020. The strategy's vision is a safe road system increasingly free of death and serious injury and introduces the safe system approach to New Zealand.
"The difference between life and death" is one of the many resources developed to aid the implementation of Safer Journeys.
Pictured above: "The difference between life and death" is a helpful tool for learning more about the theory behind the safe system approach. |
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| Visit the Safer Journeys website (www.saferjourneys.govt.nz/resources/) to view either the 20-minute video or the one-minute preview. |
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| Baby boom in Broome? |
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| “Just come along and give a talk about child car restraints,” they said. |
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“Oh, and can you check a few restraints too?”
Kimberley Road Safety Advisor and Type 1 Child Car Restraint Fitter, Greg Hayes was a little more than surprised when he visited Broome Circle, the local community organisation recently.
Twenty four new mums, and their bubs, were enrolled in the New Parent Program.
The New Parent Program is an educational program for new mums and bubs and has been operating at Broome Circle for several years.
Parents and caregivers were provided with valuable information about using an appropriate child car restraint for children of all ages.
Pictured above: Broome Bubs – has my restraint been checked? |
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| For queries, visit www.childcarrestraints.com.au or call the child car restraint information line on 1300 780713 between 9.00am and 2.00pm weekdays. |
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| Scooter safety presentation |
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| Broome Senior High School students have been given a heads up on what it means to get a scooter licence. |
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About 50 year 10 students recently attended a presentation which provided information about obtaining their Provisional RN Scooter (moped) licence and the lawful obligations of a Learner Rider and a Novice (probationary) Rider.
Scooters are a popular mode of transport in the tourist town, and scooter ownership among students is increasing annually.
Other topics covered included traffic regulations, police enforcement and road safety.
Picture – Broome Senior High School students Derya Altintas and Abbie Ledgerwood give the Scooter Safety practical demonstration the thumbs up to Sgt Paul World (Broome Police), Regional Driving Assessor Alan Ingram, and Geoff Armitage (Department of Transport); Provisional Licence information distributed to high school participants. |
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| The presentation was developed by Department of Transport staff in the Kimberley and supported by local police and the Broome RoadWise Committee. |
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| Great Southern committees target fatigue |
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| RoadWise Committees in the Great Southern are focussing on fatigue in a number of different ways. |
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The Plantagenet RoadWise Committee ran a Driver Reviver on the Albany Highway near Cranbrook over the Labour Day long weekend where they provided drivers with an opportunity to break their journey with a free cuppa and a friendly chat.
This Driver Reviver site is run jointly by the Plantagenet and Cranbrook RoadWise Committees who aim to provide this service on as many long weekends as they can during the year. They are always looking for volunteers so if you’re interested in helping out, please get in touch.
The Albany RoadWise Committee will once again be running the Fatigue Road Stop in the lead up to Easter. With the huge number of visitors who travel to Albany for the break, the committee will aim to get the fatigue message to as many motorists as possible.
What can you do?
- Take action before the danger signs kick in.
- Plan your trip in advance.
- Swap drivers whenever possible.
- Stop for a break or coffee every two hours.
- Stop to have a short sleep.
Pictured above: The Plantagenet and Cranbrook Driver Reviver van in operation. |
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| To volunteer for either of these initiatives, please get in touch with Great Southern Road Safety Advisor, Erin McDonald-Lee by calling 0418 904 081. |
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| Short break helps 200+ drivers avoid fatigue over the Labour Day long weekend |
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| The City of Wanneroo RoadWise Working Group’s Driver Reviver team had one of its busiest days on the Labour Day public holiday, with just over 200 drivers stopping for a break, a drink and a chat. |
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Driver Reviver is an important community initiative that aims to reduce fatigue related crashes by encouraging travellers to take regular breaks in their journey by visiting an operating site.
Pictured above: The Wanneroo Driver Reviver site in action on Labour Day.
Congratulations to all of the volunteers who came together to organise and operate Driver Reviver sites across the state at the weekend. Your contribution to helping drivers avoid fatigue is very much appreciated. |
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| Visit the RoadWise website (www.roadwise.asn.au) to find out dates for Driver Reviver sites operating during the Easter weekend. |
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| Welcome to Derby Expo |
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| The Shire of Derby West Kimberley Road Safety Working Group was centre stage at this year’s Derby Expo. |
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More than 60 organisations fought for the attention of almost 500 people in what has been described as the best Expo to date.
The Expo, previously known as the Welcome to Derby Day, was a showcase of what is on offer within the Shire of Derby West Kimberley.
Pictured above: Shire President and Road Safety Working Group Chair, Elsia Archer, with Kimberley Road Safety Advisor, Greg Hayes. |
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| The event provided a great opportunity for the Road Safety Working Group to highlight some of the issues it has been addressing locally, and seek out new issues. |
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| Katanning Senior High School (KSHS) Get Up n Go Day |
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| Students at Katanning Senior High School had the chance to get to know their local RoadWise Committee members at the annual Get Up n Go Day. |
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Committee members Fay and Peter talked to the students about distraction, speed, alcohol and other topics which are relevant to novice drivers.
The students also played the Stars on Cars game where they matched vehicles to their ANCAP star rating and price. Many were surprised to learn that spending more money or purchasing a larger vehicle does not necessarily mean your vehicle will have a higher safety rating.
ANCAP Used Car Safety Rating brochures were available so students could check the safety rating of their own vehicles.
Fay Trudgen and Peter Willis were pleased that quite a few of the students said that they would consider safety ratings as an important part of choosing a vehicle.
Pictured above: Katanning RoadWise Committee members Peter Willis and Fay Trudgen at the Katanning Senior High School Get Up n Go Day. |
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| Visit the ANCAP website (www.ancap.com.au) to find out more about ANCAP, Stars on Cars and other initiatives targeting safe vehicles. |
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| Joondalup uses social media to reinforce the speed limit in local school zones |
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| The City of Joondalup took to Facebook at the beginning of February to remind its 16,300 followers that it was back to school week, urging people to stick to the 40km/hr speed limit around all school zones. |
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The City highlighted the importance of driving carefully and considering the safety of children, many of whom were starting school for the first time.
A road safety display at the Joondalup Festival 2016, to be held on 19 and 20 March prior to the Easter holidays, will offer another opportunity for the City to provide road safety information to the community.
Information about WA rest stop areas, child car restraints and motorcycle and scooter safety will be on display, with visitors encouraged to think about their safety as they prepare to hit the road during the April school holidays.
Pictured above: Reinforcing 40km/hr zones in the City of Joondalup (Photo credit: Joondalup-Wanneroo Times/Weekender) |
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| If you are planning to head away for the Easter long weekend or during the school holidays, visit the Main Roads website (www.mainroads.wa.gov.au) to find the rest stops on your route. Visit the RoadWise website (www.roadwise.asn.au) to find out where you can stop and take a break at one of the many Driver Reviver and Coffee Stop operations across the state. |
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| Child car restraints update - Reinforcing the "Buckle up, every child, every trip" message |
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| A key part of the Type 1 Child Car Restraint Fitting service is the provision of a telephone information line for members of the public (and Type 1 Fitters) to seek information about the safe and correct use of child car restraints. |
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Recent queries to the information line have emphasised the need to reinforce the important “Buckle up, every child, every trip” message.
Studies confirm that child car restraint use has been very effective in reducing deaths and severe injuries in a crash, and that a crash can occur whether close to home or on a long trip.
- Just over one third of drivers and motorcycle riders involved in fatal crashes (35%) lived within the LGA in which the crash occurred;
- A further third of drivers and motorcycle riders involved in fatal crashes (34%) lived outside the LGA but within the region in which the crash occurred;
- Only 5% of drivers and motorcycle riders involved in all crashes lived outside the region in which the crash occurred; and
- Over half of pedestrians fatally injured (55%) lived within the LGA in which the crash occurred.1
What is not always fully understood, is that:
- from October 2010, it became a legal requirement that all children [at least] up to the age of seven years of age use an appropriate child car restraint,
- there are now restraints at each stage of growth to cater for very tall children, and
- to find out what penalties apply, for non-compliance, visit the Road Safety Commission website (www.rsc.wa.gov.au).
Type 1 Child Car Restraint Fitters are qualified to ensure that children are restrained correctly through the fitting and checking of child car restraints.
Type 1 Child Car Restraint Fitters also provide information and advice to parents and caregivers regarding child car restraints, and promote the “Buckle up, every child, every trip” message.
Pictured above: The message is simple - "Buckle up, every child, every trip".
1Road Safety Council, Analysis of Road Crash Statistics, Western Australia, 1990 to 1999 Report, www.rsc.wa.gov.au. |
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| For queries, visit the child car restraint website (www.childcarrestraints.com.au) or call the information line on 1300 780713 between 9.00am and 2.00pm weekdays. |
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| Westcare supports employees to gain confidence about being a safe pedestrian |
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| Westcare Incorporated is committed to providing quality employment and training for Western Australians with disabilities. |
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In keeping with this commitment, Westcare Support Services Officer, Sherry Kaur arranges guest speakers and educators to present topical information and training to Westcares’ supported employees.
Last month, Westcare and RoadWise joined together to deliver an interactive session with supported employees to provide a better understanding of safe road crossing and pedestrian related road rules.
The supported employees were given the opportunity to interact with Metro North Road Safety Advisor, Karen White in smaller groups to ask questions and discuss road safety messages which Karen adapted specifically for their needs.
Preliminary figures show that in 2015, 15 people (or nine per cent of total fatalities) died as pedestrians in Western Australia.1
Pictured above: Westcare uses Facebook to promote the pedestrian road safety session and its commitment to the safety of their Supported Employees.
1Road Safety Commission https://rsc.wa.gov.au/Topics/Pedestrians Accessed 01/03/16 |
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| Pedestrian safety information is available from the Road Safety Commission website (www.rsc.wa.gov.au). |
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| Commitment to safe patient transfer |
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| It is often the case in remote areas, people requiring health care are unable to get to a medical facility – therefore agencies go to them. |
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When this is the case, and children need to be transported, a correctly fitted child car restraint (or two) is needed to transport people safely.
As part of its ongoing commitment to road safety, Community Health agencies across the Kimberley have completed a series of child car restraint checks on their vehicle fleet as well as some restraint familiarisation activities.
Planning is now underway to conduct an accredited Type 1 Child Car Restraint Fitter Course in the Kimberley in July or August.
Pictured above: Halls Creek Hospital staffer Leon Holiga ensuring the child car restraint is correctly installed prior to picking up a patient. |
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| For more information, contact Road Safety Advisor Kimberley Greg Hayes on Mob: 0419 192 759. |
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| Protecting vulnerable road users in the City of Rockingham |
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| The changing face of Baldivis and the need to improve the safety of students travelling to and from school on the busy Eighty Road has led to an innovative interim road safety solution. |
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Located within the City of Rockingham, Baldivis Primary School was opened in 1924 in what was very much a rural farming community. Residential development has, over the last few years crept closer to the school and the number of students walking and riding to school has increased significantly.
Eighty Road is a rural type road connecting a number of new subdivisions directly to Baldivis Primary School.
Students using this road to get to school were often forced to walk on the narrow carriageway (due to the vegetated verges), whilst having to watch out for the heavy school traffic.
The situation represented a significant safety issue, and through the intervention of the City of Rockingham RoadWise Committee and the City's engineering staff, the issue was investigated in an effort to develop a solution.
With the land adjacent to Eighty Road likely to be developed in the near future (which would destroy any permanent new infrastructure installed), City staff considered what suitable, affordable treatment could be found in the interim.
The result was the construction of a “temporary” path along the road, which is essentially a widening of the carriageway on one side, separated from the traffic lane by closely spaced, reflective guide posts.
Pictured above: The temporary path constructed to separate vulnerable road users from vehicle traffic on Eighty Road in Baldivis. |
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| The path was completed in January 2016 just prior to the start of the new school year and has been well received by the school community. A recent usage count showed a 36% increase in the number of pedestrians and cyclists using Eighty Road. All are now safely using the new path. |
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| Pilbara road safety campaign encourages community input |
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| A radio campaign designed and funded by the Pilbara Industry Road Safety Alliance is providing valuable road safety information to Pilbara road users. |
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In addition to radio messages, the campaign provides an opportunity for the Pilbara community to have their say on road safety matters in their local area by completing an online survey.
The survey is designed to gather information about what the Pilbara community thinks are the key road safety issues, how important road safety is to them and self-reported driving behaviours.
The campaign will run over three, six-week periods throughout the year, with a survey conducted at the end of each campaign period.
The first campaign period is now complete and survey results are currently being analysed.
The information gained will inform the development of questions for the second survey. It will also provide guidance to the Pilbara Industry Road Safety Alliance members and other road safety stakeholders in the Pilbara, with the aim of improving road safety outcomes in the region. |
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| For more information about road safety in the Pilbara region, email the RoadWise Program at roadwise@walga.asn.au. |
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| Local business teams up with the Carnarvon RoadWise Committee to review hotspots |
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Through the generosity of Carnarvon Bus Charters, members of the Carnarvon RoadWise Committee will be hitting the road to identify local road safety hazards and hotspots. |
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Local road safety hazards and hotspots are often discussed at the Committee’s monthly meetings.
In order to make these discussions more fruitful and to ensure Committee members are fully informed, the Committee decided to schedule a tour of the local area to visit hotspots and areas where road safety hazards may be present.
Information from the tour will be used to develop a plan for countermeasures.
Thanks to Carnarvon Bus Charters for their ongoing support of the Carnarvon RoadWise Committee and their commitment to improving road safety in the Shire of Carnarvon. |
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| For more information about the Carnarvon RoadWise Committee visit the RoadWise website (www.roadwise.asn.au). |
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| Young Cricketers spread the ‘Belt Up’ message |
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| Forty young junior cricketers from the Avon, Central and Eastern Wheatbelt regions recently joined together to spread the ‘You’re Worth Holding onto. Belt Up’ message over the annual Junior Country Cricket Championships held in Perth. |
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‘You’re worth holding on to. Belt Up’ is a road safety campaign which reminds road users that you wear a seat belt to protect yourself because each person is important to many people.
The message counteracts the argument that the only person you hurt by choosing not to wear a seat belt is yourself.
Every year around 38 people are killed in road crashes in WA while they were not wearing a seat belt. You are 10 times more likely to be killed in a road crash if you’re not wearing a seat belt in a car. Seat belts protect vehicle occupants by:
- decreasing the time it takes them to come to a stop in a crash,
- spreads the impact force over a greater area of the body,
- minimises contact with the interior of the vehicle, and
- helps stop them from being ejected from the vehicle.
What can you do:
- Make sure you and passengers, in the vehicle you are travelling in, always wear the appropriate restraints correctly.
- Find out more about seatbelts from the Road Safety Commission website (www.rsc.wa.gov.au).
- Include seat belt messages in your community newsletter, website or electronic notices.
Local cricket coach, Stephen Gollan said, "We must continue to engage with young people about the risks they face when driving on the roads.”
“These young men will be driving before we know it and it is vitally important we spread the message in regards to the responsibilities and benefits of wearing a seat belt, both as a driver and as a passenger," he said.
Pictured above: Cricketers from the Avon, Central and Eastern Wheatbelt regions join forces to spread the 'Belt Up' message. |
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| Visit the Road Safety Commission website (www.rsc.wa.gov.au) to find out more about the importance of wearing a seatbelt. |
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| Australian Anglers Association targets fatigue at Swanfish 2016 |
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| The Melville Amateur Angling Club combined with Recfishwest to raise awareness of the dangers of driver fatigue at the Swanfish 2016 fishing event, held on the Swan River on 27 and 28 February. |
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Organiser John Crompton is dedicated to promoting the ‘Driving tired can kill’ message, encouraging fellow fishing enthusiasts to consider the risks of fatigue when driving to and from their 'big catch' locations.
“Those who enjoy fishing travel long distances to fish recreational areas and spend all day out fishing, to then drive long distances home. It’s a long day - they get tired,” John said.
John set up a static display at the Swanfish 2016 event including a ‘Driving tired can kill. Don’t drive tired’ banner.
Participants and their families were provided with litter bags containing brochures with information about fatigue, as well as merchandise with road safety messages.
John engaged many in discussions about how to recognise driver fatigue and solutions to combat fatigue such as; stopping for a break or coffee, swapping drivers where possible, or stopping to have a short sleep.
Congratulations to John Crompton for his efforts to promote an awareness of driver fatigue to the fishing community. |
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| For more information about fatigue, visit the Road Safety Commission website (www.rsc.wa.gov.au). |
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| ANCAP welcomes new 'Exit Warning' technology to help protect vulnerable road users |
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| The Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) has released a 5 star safety rating for the new Audi A4, showcasing innovative safety features for protecting vulnerable road users. |
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| The safety rating applies to the new A4 introduced in Australia and New Zealand in February and covers all variants with 4 cylinder engines.
“The A4 performed well in crash testing and it features a long list of safety equipment that customers in this segment expect as standard, including three types of autonomous braking – City, Interurban and Vulnerable Road User,” ANCAP CEO James Goodwin said.
“The Audi is also fitted with impressive technology known as ‘Exit Warning’ which scans the road or footpath and warns the occupants of the car of approaching traffic, such as cars and cyclists, and lets people know when it’s safe to open the door,” he said.
“This is the first time we have included ‘Exit Warning’ on our data sheet and it’s hoped that technology like this will help reduce the number of ‘dooring’ incidents to cyclists,” Mr Goodwin said. |
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| Visit the ANCAP website (www.ancap.com.au) to find out more about ANCAP, Stars on Cars and other initiatives targeting safe vehicles. |
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| Road safety events, conferences and resources |
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| Each month, the RoadWise Road Safety Newsletter will provide details of events, conferences or new resources (reports, statistics or data) which may be of direct interest to members of the community road safety network. |
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The information provided below is not intended to be an exhaustive list, rather a carefully selected list, most relevant to our road safety network.
Road safety events:
Blessing of the Roads 2016 events - please visit the RoadWise Program website for a current list of all Blessing of the Roads events.
Driver Reviver operations - please visit the RoadWise Program website to find a Driver Reviver operation operating on your route this long weekend/holiday period.
Great Southern Road Safety Conference, 16 June 2016, 10 am – 3 pm, Cranbrook Sporting Club, Cranbrook.
23rd National Conference, Australian Health Promotion Association, "Connecting the Dots", 19 - 22 June 2016, Rendezvous Hotel, Scarborough, WA.
2016 International Conference on Traffic and Transport Psychology, “UN Decade of Action For Road Safety: The Half-way Point”, 2-5 August 2016, Brisbane. Visit the conference website to find out more.
2016 Australasian Road Safety Conference (ARSC2016) to be held at the National Convention Centre, Canberra, Australia from Tuesday 6 – Thursday 8 September 2016.
Resources:
Road Deaths Australia—Monthly Bulletins -This bulletin contains current counts and summaries of road crash deaths and fatal road crashes in Australia. It is produced monthly and published on BITRE's website on/ around the 14th of each month. |
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| If you have a local road safety event or a link to a report/data you have found relevant to your local road safety efforts, please email the details to Road Safety Project Officer Kylie O'Driscoll. |
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| WALGA |
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ONE70, LV1, 170 Railway Parade,
West Leederville, WA 6007
PO Box 1544, West Perth, WA 6872
Tel: (08) 9213 2000 | Fax: (08) 9213 2077
Email: info@walga.asn.au
www.walga.asn.au |
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| © Copyright Western Australian Local Government Association 2014 |
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