Can Australia go one day fatality-free on the roads?
That’s the aim of today’s campaign, Fatality Free Friday, which hopes that one day without losing a life on the road can instil a long-lasting culture which will save thousands of lives.
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The nation-wide program is run annually by the Australian Road Safety Foundation (ARSF) to raise road safety awareness.
In 2022, the Bureau if Infrastructure and Transport Research Economics (BITRE) reported 1,194 road crash deaths – up 5.8 per cent from 2021.
The ARSF said its belief is Australia can go more than one day without road fatalities, but starting with just one day is a step in the right direction.
“ARSF’s Fatality Free Friday initiative is about much more than just a single day. It operates on the belief that if we can go one day without a death on the road, we can demonstrate the impact a focus on road safety can have every day of the year,” they said.
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“Road safety is a global issue that ranks as one of the most pressing matters facing society today.
“The social, economic, and emotional costs are immense, and these figures are poised to increase unless something is done, now.”
Australians are encouraged to make a pledge in support of safer roads and a fatality free future.
ARSF asks Australians to “promise to choose road safety” and to always “be fit to drive”, “avoid distracting the driver”, and “be visible”.
Visit the Australian Road Safety Foundation website to make the pledge and find out more.
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