Companies are being encouraged to take part in this year’s Road Safety Week and join hundreds of communities, schools and organisations running activities to raise awareness of road safety issues.
The campaign runs from May 9-15 and is coordinated by road safety charity Brake and sponsored by Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency and Beca.
This year’s theme will be Road Safety Heroes, recognising the professionals who are working to make roads safer for everyone – from designing safer roads to caring for people after a crash. The theme will also focus on the part everyone who uses roads can play in making them safer.
The week will also highlight the safe system approach to road safety and will encourage people to learn more about it, how it links to the current national road safety strategy Road to Zero, and about the system design solutions that can enable everyone to get around in safe and healthy ways.
Brake is encouraging organisations to go to roadsafetyweek.org.nz/organisations for ideas on taking part, and to sign up for a free electronic action pack to help them raise awareness and promote safer road use to staff, contractors, customers and the wider community. This will include downloadable resources and activity ideas, advice and case studies showing how other organisations have got involved in previous years.
The event has been running for over ten years and is a great opportunity for employers, especially those with staff who drive for work, to develop and promote safe travel internally, raise awareness in their local community and link with other organisations to run road safety campaigns.
Brake NZ director Caroline Perry says “it’s everyone’s human right to be able to get around in a safe and healthy way every day”.
“There are lots of people who work to make our roads safer, to save lives when crashes happen, and to support those affected by crashes, so this Road Safety Week we want to celebrate all these Road Safety Heroes, and highlight how everyone can be a hero too.
“We want everyone to learn about the design-led solutions that help to save lives and end suffering from road trauma, and create a safe and healthy future for all,” Perry says.
Waka Kotahi land transport director Kane Patena says everyone needs to work together to achieve zero deaths and injuries on the roads.
“Every day there are many people working hard to make our roads safer and deliver Road to Zero, New Zealand’s road safety strategy.
“Road Safety Week is a great opportunity to celebrate these road safety heroes – It takes everyone to get to no one. Mā tātou e kore tētahi e hinga,” Patena says.
Beca NZ transport and infrastructure general manager Andrea Rickard says the initiative is “vital” for improving road safety.
“Working together to deliver safer journeys for all transport users, and to reduce the devastating impact to our communities from deaths and serious injuries on our roads is incredibly important to us at Beca.”
Organisations with staff who drive for work are also urged to make use of guidance from the Global Fleet Champions campaign in the run up to the week to develop year-round fleet safety practices. Becoming a member is free and gives access to a range of fleet safety resources, events and news. Go to globalfleetchampions.org to sign up.
Brake is also encouraging fundraising as part of Road Safety Week, to help the charity to continue providing free support to people affected by road crashes. Fundraising activities such as Bright Days and Go Yellow days all help to support the charity. Go to brake.org.nz/fundraise for more information.
