Making Safety Our Top Priority Every Time We Drive
Rural Road Safety Month is a nationwide initiative supported by Transport for NSW to raise awareness of the unique and often challenging conditions on country roads. For those of us who live, work, and travel in Wentworth Shire, August is a timely reminder to step up for rural road safety and make it our top priority every time we get behind the wheel.
The Reality of Rural Roads
Our region offers wide open spaces and a strong sense of freedom, but our roads also present significant risks. It is easy to think we are safe because we "know the road," but the statistics tell a different story.
Nationally, rural communities account for more than two-thirds of road deaths. In NSW, 83 percent of all fatal crashes on country roads involve a country resident. Four out of five crashes involve locals just like us. These numbers highlight a tragic reality: complacency is simply not an option.
Our 5-Week Focus for August
Throughout August, Wentworth Shire Council is running a dedicated campaign to target the most critical risk factors on our local roads. Each week, we will focus on a key area of road safety:
Week 1: Speed - Small increases can have big consequences. 'Low level speeding' is the single biggest cause of deaths and serious injuries on NSW roads.
Week 2: NSW Country Roads - Familiarity can be fatal. With country residents making up 4 out of 5 fatal crashes on our roads, we must remain vigilant on every trip, no matter how familiar the route.
Week 3: Fatigue - Don't trust your tired self. Fatigue-related crashes can happen on any trip, long or short, and are almost three times as likely to be fatal.
Week 4: Seatbelts - A simple click saves lives. Wearing a seatbelt doubles your chance of surviving a crash. In rollover crashes, people not wearing a seatbelt are more than 15 times more likely to suffer fatal injuries.
Week 5: Animals on Country Roads - Be prepared for the unexpected. Animal collisions are a significant risk, especially at dawn and dusk.
In addition to these risks, unsealed roads are often impacted by weather events. Always check road conditions before travelling and adjust your driving to suit.
Our Shared Responsibility
Road safety is everyone's responsibility. This month, we encourage all community members to look out for our weekly updates on the Wentworth Shire Council Facebook page.
