Road Safety

The aim of the Road Safety Officer Program is to decrease the incidence and severity of crashes through increasing the local government and local community's involvement in road safety. The RSO works closely with local traffic engineers, local Police, the RTA and the local community to address road safety issues of the Coolamon, Junee and Wagga Wagga region.

The three year Road Safety Officer Program relates to behavioural issues with a focus on improving road safety in the local community. Projects include Snow Safety, Headlights On highlighting the benefits of day-time running lights, drink safe nights and child restraint fitting days.

Links

Roads and Traffic Authority
www.rta.nsw.gov.au
Driver Reviver sites

Motor Accidents Authority
www.maa.nsw.gov.au

Road Safety 2005/06 Projects

Pedestrian Campaign

An observation study will be conducted in 2005 that will show the various pedestrian movements throughout Wagga and a media campaign that will incorporate both local newspapers and local radio to educate and raise awareness of residents in Wagga, Coolamon and Junee as to the dangers that pedestrians face when walking on the road. Also being conducted in this campaign will be

• Local workshops and presentations will be conducted after liaison with community organisations to map out the preferred route for pedestrian access to facilities e.g. Senior Citizens Centre, hospital. Presentations to community groups using the data obtained from the Observations Studies conducted prior to workshop/s.
• Slap bands and Brochures will be distributed through the 3 council offices and will have RTA produced pedestrian brochures and fluorescent slap bands with the message "Watch Out, Cars About" available to the public. The availability of these will be advertised through local media releases encouraging high visibility especially at dusk and dawn or in darkness.

Roundabout Use

All motorists in the Coolamon, Junee and Wagga Local Government Area's use a roundabout. This can vary in the number of occasions this occurs depending on how often the motorists are using a road where a roundabout exists. This campaign will be utilising some existing television commercials regarding the correct use of one lane and two lane roundabouts, local newspaper advertising and media releases to outline the 'correct use of Roundabouts'. Police will be used to enforce this issue as the Highway Patrol Police have all been fitted with in-car video's which allows the manner of driving to be displayed in court if required.

Bicycle Use

Correct bicycle behaviour and the use of correct equipment (bicycle helmets, protective clothing etc.) is an issue throughout every Council area in NSW. Coolamon LGA and Junee LGA have a high level of bicycle use and this mode of transport is used by young riders to get to and from school. This campaign will be using the media, local school presentations as well as RTA Bike Slap bands. The slap bands will be made available to every bicycle riding student by means of a voucher that enables the bicycle riding student to receive a free RTA Bike slap band from their local council office (Coolamon Shire and Junee Shire).

Keep it Safe at the Races

The 'Keep It Safe At The Races' project involves the Murrumbidgee Turf Club, the Road Safety Officer, the PCYC and the NSW Police working together to monitor patron's consumption of alcohol and to discourage drink driving.

The aim of this project is to work with local race committee's and provide the patrons of the race days 'free' BAC tests and Road Safety Information to alert them of the dangers of Drink Driving.