AMC supports Fatality Free Friday
The Australian Motorcycle Council is backing Fatality Free Friday, the aim of which is reduce the number of road deaths in Australia from its current 1500
Friday May 27 is Fatality Free Friday in Australia, where the aim is to ensure that not one person dies on public roads, and the Australian Motorcycle Council (AMC) has now thrown its weight behind the campaign.
People can get more details about the event at the FatalityFreeFriday.com website, which challenges motorists to take a road safety pledge.
Events will take place in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane and the brief is for drivers, riders, pedestrians and cyclists to consciously think about road safety and safe driving for just one Friday in the year, which could reduce that day’s road toll to zero.
AMC chairman, Shaun Lennard, has thrown the council's support behind the initiative, calling it a "great community-based campaign".
“Fatality Free Friday is much more than aiming for zero road deaths in Australia on a particular day. It’s intended to bring a national focus onto road safety; something that we hope will make people think well beyond the one day.
“I’ve mentioned Fatality Free Friday to quite a few people but they don’t all recognise the name. But when I talk about the ‘empty shoes’ displays, people in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney know exactly what I’m talking about.”
The 'Empty Shoes' exhibits will be held on Friday morning at Federation Square in Melbourne, Circular Quay in Sydney and Reddacliff Place in Brisbane, the poignant displays showing 1500 pairs of empty shoes to shine the spotlight on Australia's annual road deaths.
“The AMC hopes our involvement can draw some of the focus onto motorcycling; aiming to keep everyone safe on our roads," noted Lennard.
Fatality Free Friday is organised by the Fatality Free Friday Road Safety Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation that says it is dedicated to improving road safety awareness, enhancing driver education and reducing the impact of road trauma.
Russell White, the founder of the Fatality Free Friday Foundation, said that the campaign is designed to make people think about the way they ride and drive.
“If people think about staying alive on the road on Friday 27 May 2011, they’ll drive and ride safer for the next few days too and reduce the traditionally high weekend fatality rate. If people can do that on one Friday and one weekend, we can create a change in driving culture so they do it every Friday and every weekend – and ultimately every day of the year.”
Organisers say Fatality Free Friday is just the beginning of a grander plan to make the roads safer. The FatalityFreeFridayFoundation will be seeking to develop a sustainable strategy for reducing the social and economic costs of road crashes, as well as providing a platform for future research and advocacy programs.
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