Queensland Road Safety Week runs from August 22-28 and is an opportunity for all Queenslanders to speak up for road safety. To coincide with the start of the campaign, QUT’s Centre for Accident Research & Road Safety – Queensland (CARRS-Q) will host the 2016 Community Engagement Workshop, designed to provide practical advice and strategies to enhance road safety initiatives.
Aimed at community groups, industry, government and others working in the area of road safety, the Community Engagement Workshop will be held in Brisbane on Monday August 22.
CARRS-Q director Professor Narelle Haworth said that one of the four guiding principles of the Queensland Road Safety Strategy was that “road safety is everyone’s issue and everyone’s responsibility”.
Professor Haworth said the Community Engagement Workshop was targeted at anyone committed to saving lives on our roads - whether that is schools, individuals, businesses or community groups.
“Presentations will include advice on working with the media, collaborating with government and industry, developing community resources and creating surveys,” she said.
“We will also hear success stories from past Queensland Road Safety Award winners including Neighbourhood Watch The Gap and Queensland Police Service about their joint Mount Zero campaign which was designed to raise awareness of the dangers of Mount Nebo and Mount Glorious roads.
“Community involvement in road safety is a vital factor in determining whether or not road trauma is reduced over the long term.
“Road safety initiatives that have a history of community involvement and evaluated outcomes have been shown to be an effective strategy in reducing road trauma.”
Professor Haworth said taking action together would make roads safer and reduce road injuries and deaths.
“With more than 1200 deaths on Australian roads in the past 12 months, we cannot be complacent when it comes to road safety, and we need to be doing more to protect our communities.
“Road safety is everyone's responsibility. We have to work hard to have a 'towards zero' approach to our actions for reducing deaths and serious injuries.”
Although the workshop is booked out, people interested in participating should contact Kim Smith on 3138 4568 as additional places may become available.
Media contacts:
Sandra Hutchinson, QUT Media, 07 3138 9449 (Tue/Wed) or media@qut.edu.au
After hours: Rose Trapnell, 0407 585 901
