NSW Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione was joined by NSW Deputy Premier and Minister for Police, Troy Grant, to launch a unique safety campaign to help reduce the NSW road toll, NSW Police say.
The video campaign was delivered through a number of children – together sharing 85 years of wisdom – with an important message to all road users.
To date, 200 people have lost their lives on NSW roads in 2016 – compared with 161 fatalities this time last year.
Commissioner Scipione said every life lost to road trauma is an unnecessary tragedy and as these figures demonstrate, the message simply isn’t getting through to NSW road users.
"Today is about renewing our perception of road safety and remembering what real impact the road toll has on everyday Australians. People like you and me," Commissioner Scipione said.
"We’ve heard from the mouths of children what impact a fatal crash can have – for them it could be the loss of a parent – the breakdown of their family.
"If they understand the risks, than surely we can too. There is no deadline, no phone call, no distraction that matters more than your safety or the safety of other road users," Commissioner Scipione said.
"The Traffic and Highway Patrol Command are a group of highly trained officers who conduct daily traffic enforcement duties and work hard to keep our roads safe.
"They’re equipped with the latest technologies and cutting-edge resources to target drink and drug-driving, speeding offences, seat belt use and driver distraction," Commissioner Scipione said.
"But none of these capabilities can touch the attitudes we adopt as road users. None of this can enter our minds.
"That’s on us – each and every road user – to change our attitudes toward road safety and consider the impact road trauma can and does have," Commissioner Scipione said.
"Our hope is that every road user walks away and re-evaluates their attitude to road safety – because when it comes down to it – it’s as simple as child’s play."
Deputy Premier and Minister for Police Troy Grant said this campaign follows a record budget aimed at targeting the increase in deaths on NSW roads.
"The reality is as a community we’ve become complacent and we’ve come to accept people will die on our roads and that’s a tragedy in itself," Mr Grant said.
"The NSW Government has continued our commitment to fund extra high-visibility police enforcement and police vehicles with a massive $25 million investment in 2016-17.
"This will help deliver the NSW Government’s commitment to increase roadside drug testing and carry out 97,400 tests by 2017.
"We want the community to remember that every road death is someone’s friend or family member – not just a number.
"The NSW Government has also allocated an additional $5.2 million to focus on road safety education in early childhood centres and schools.
"It’s crucial road safety is taught to children from a young age and this commitment alongside this campaign will continue to see these important education programs delivered to children across NSW," Mr Grant said.
