South Coast residents are being urged to help make local streets safer by applying ‘Life Saving’ stickers to their garbage wheelie bins.
The large stickers feature life-size images of children stepping towards the road and speed limit signs.
They have been designed to provide a strong visual road safety reminder to motorists to slow down and take care.
The images are based on research which found signs depicting motion resulted in faster reaction times and increased vigilance among drivers and could lead to faster stopping times.
The Australian Road Safety Federation (ARSF) is now calling on South Coast residents to wheel out their bins in fight against pedestrian deaths.
“Between January and May this year 67 pedestrians were killed on Australian roads,” ARSF CEO Russell White said.
“If trends continue the number could reach or even exceed last year’s number of 165.
“Drivers need to be sent a message that is visual and available to them when they are on the road.
“The ‘Life Saving’ sticker campaign provides a real-time reminder to motorists to reduce their speed.
“If someone is exceeding the speed limit, we hope these stickers will prompt them to immediately slow down.
“Even small changes in vehicle speed can have a dramatic impact on stopping distances.”
Of the 67 pedestrians killed so far this year, seven were under 16 years of age.
“We also know that the statistics show fatalities are higher on week days when over 82% of this year’s fatalities have been recorded,” Mr White said.
“NSW has recorded almost half the pedestrian deaths occurring in Australia in 2016 with 46.3 percent of deaths occurring this year happening within the state.
“These are just the fatality rates. There have been many more injured and even left with life changing disabilities.
“Our research tells us that for every fatality, there is between 20 and 30 injuries. With the impact on families and friends, that’s thousands of lives shattered every year.”
Pedestrian fatalities recorded in in 2016 are on track to match the number recorded in 2015, which grew for the third consecutive year.
If you are interested in purchasing a sticker for your bin please contact the ARSF hotline on 1300 723 843 or email info@australianroadsafetyfoundation.com. The stickers available for $10 each, plus postage.
For more information visit www.facebook.com/fatalityfreefriday.
