National Launch on UN World Day of Remembrance for Road Victims
Australia, Thursday 12 November: Our favourite icons, bridges and buildings across Australia will light up yellow on Sunday 15 November to mark the start of National Road Safety Week 2020 (15 – 22 November) and honour the memory of the 1,200 lives lost, and more than 39,000 seriously injured on Australia's roads each year.
To be launched nationally by the NSW Minister for Transport and Roads the Hon. Andrew Constance MP and the NSW Minister for Regional Transport and Roads the Hon. Paul Toole MP, National Road Safety Week sees hundreds of initiatives across the country encouraging Australians to commit to get everyone on the roads home safely.
Minister Constance said more than 260 people have been killed on NSW roads so far this year and although the road toll is lower than last year there have been concerning trends emerging.
"Speeding, drink and drug driving and fatigue are still the biggest killers on NSW roads and this year there has been a worrying increase in speed-related crashes which accounted for half of fatalities between March and October," Minister Constance said.
Minister Toole said that last year 234 of the 353 deaths on NSW roads occurred on country roads.
"The trauma caused by road crashes echoes through our community and is felt by so many others – family and friends, work colleagues, community groups, emergency service workers and local communities," Minister Toole said.
"Our Government is committed to making NSW roads the safest in the world, but we can't do it alone – road safety is everyone's responsibility."
During the Week, road users are being asked to think about how they can actively protect all those who are vulnerable on the road ahead and to sign an online pledge to not drive distracted, not speed and to never drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Peter Frazer, Founder of National Road Safety Week and President of the SARAH (Safer Australian Roads and Highways) Group explained: "We started National Road Safety Week back in 2013 and are so proud that it continues to grow across the country every year. We are grateful for the amazing support of Government, councils, emergency services, road safety groups, corporate partners, supporters, and the wider community.
"However, even with all this support, the numbers of deaths and serious injuries on our roads is still at epidemic proportions. This Week is an important reminder that every life is precious, and everyone has a right to get home safe to their loved ones every day, without exception! Let's all please choose to drive so others survive", he added.
There are many ways Australians can participate in the week, even during COVID times.
How to get involved
- Take an online pledge to drive safely at www.roadsafetyweek.com.au
- Discuss driving safely with your family, friends, and colleagues
- Wear a yellow ribbon lapel badge, yellow ribbon or display a vehicle sticker available from
- Promote your support for National Road Safety Week on social media using #NRSW or #DriveSoS hashtag
Craig Newland, Director, Policy and Research, AAA said: "The AAA is pleased to support National Road Safety Week, which is an important initiative to raise awareness of road safety and remember those lives lost and forever impacted by road crashes. It is also timely to remember that road trauma can be reduced by infrastructure investment that is targeted towards improving the safety of our road network, along with appropriate legislative and policy frameworks that support and encourage safer vehicles and safer people on our roads."
Each day of the week will focus on a different area of road safety.
Daily themes
Sunday 15 November: Remember the 1200 – pause to remember the 1200 people who die each year in avoidable road incidents at 12.00pm.
Monday 16 November: Take the pledge, lead the way – take the online pledge at www.roadsafetyweek.com.au to drive so that you and others survive.
Tuesday 17 November: Safe driving to work– support your employees to drive so they and others survive.
Wednesday 18 November: Move Over/Slow Down - keep our emergency roadside responders safe by giving them space when you see flashing lights.
Thursday 19 November: Protecting every life – drive to protect our vulnerable road users (pedestrians, children, seniors, people with a disability).
Friday 20 November: Shine a light – turn on your headlights on for rural road safety.
Saturday 21 November: Cyclists and Motorcyclists – share the roads to give cyclists and motorcyclists the space they need.
Sunday 22 November: Arrive home safe for your loved ones – the greatest gift you can give your loved ones is to get home safe.
National Road Safety Week Partners and Supporters
National Road Safety Week Principal Partners include the Australian Automobile Association, Altus Traffic, Ennis-Flint, Roads Australia, and Volvo Cars Australia while major supporters include 3M Australia, Australian Trucking Association and SG Fleet. The Week is also supported by commonwealth, state and local governments, corporates, unions, education, road member associations and road safety organisations throughout Australia.
This year, National Road Safety Week 2020 commences with the commemoration of United Nations World Day of Remembrance for Road Victims (Sunday 15 November). This will be a poignant opportunity to not only bring focus to the lives so unnecessarily lost both on our roads and highways, honour those loved ones who grieve, but show how by working together, we can get everyone home safe.
