RFSA reminder to slow down during National Road Safety Week
The NSW Rural Fire Service Association (RFSA) is reminding drivers to slow down to 40km/h when passing stationary emergency vehicles with their lights flashing as part of National Road Safety Week.
As part of an effort to make the state’s roads safer for everyone, slowing down to 40km/h ensures that emergency workers going about their jobs protecting the people of NSW don’t become casualties themselves.
RFSA President Ken Middleton said the RFSA is always supportive of initiatives like National Road Safety Week making our roads safer.
“Every year, more than 1,200 people are killed and another 35,000 seriously injured on Australian roads – but even one life lost on the roads is one too many,” Mr Middleton said.
“This week is an excellent opportunity to remind the community of the importance of the slow down rule, which is keeping emergency services personnel safe on the job.
Since September last year, a new road rule requires drivers to slow down to 40km/h when passing stationary emergency vehicles displaying flashing blue or red lights.
“Our volunteer firefighters put their lives on the line every day to protect the people of this state – you can help them by driving as if it were your loved ones on the road ahead, so they can return to their loved ones.
“The theme for this year’s National Road Safety Week is ‘Drive So Others Survive’. The RFSA and its members implore all drivers to please help make our roads safer and drive so others, including emergency service workers, survive.”
National Road Safety Week, which runs 6-12 May 2019, is an annual initiative from the Safer Australian Roads and Highways (SARAH) Group, partnering with road safety organisations and Government. The week highlights the impact of road trauma and ways to reduce it.