Member for Cootamundra, Steph Cooke MP, has announced the first ever comprehensive road safety education campaign to target regional NSW in an all-out effort to spread the critical message that too many country people are dying on the state’s roads. Saving Lives On Country Roads aims to highlight the hidden crisis unfolding almost daily on the state’s regional road network, a crisis which is devastating families and communities.
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Ms Cooke highlighted the toll on the Cootamundra electorate. “It’s quite shocking – from 2012 to 2016, 544 people were seriously injured in accidents on roads in the Cootamundra electorate and 57 people lost their lives. That’s four times the state average.” Ms Cooke knows only too well the aftermath of road traffic accidents. “My own mother was terribly injured - she is one of those statistics,” Ms Cooke said.
“I’d love to think that no one will have to go through what my family has been through. A car veered onto the other side of the road and collected my mother’s car in the process, and we are living with the results of that every day.” Ms Cooke also knows, through her parents, of the effects on victims’ families. “My family business is in funeral directing,” she said, “mum and dad for 40 years have been dealing with the aftermath, with families and communities left tragically impacted when people lose their lives on country roads,
“This is an important campaign and my message is: slow down, pay attention to what you’re doing, don’t drink and drive, don’t use drugs, don’t text on your phone, and just remember that you have a personal responsibility when you’re on the roads to look after yourself, to look after those in the vehicle with you and to look after those that are oncoming.”
With the holiday season upon us it is a timely reminder for motorists to be vigilant and follow the road safety guidelines when travelling. For more information visit roadsafety.transport.nsw.gov.au
