Nominations for the 2015 Queensland Road Safety Awards have opened and QUT's Centre for Accident Research & Road Safety - Queensland (CARRS-Q) wants to hear of the practical and positive programs being run the community.
Statistics show one person dies every two days on Queensland roads, which is why CARRS-Q is committed to supporting road safety projects designed to cut the state's road toll.
CARRS-Q Acting Director Professor Narelle Haworth said the awards and associated community engagement workshop were an opportunity for individuals, community groups, industry organisations and schools to nominate road safety and injury prevention programs that were making a difference in communities.
"The awards have consistently generated high calibre entries and there has been significant improvement made in road safety by previous award winners," Professor Haworth said.
Professor Haworth said the awards were judged on creativity, originality and real world application.
"Community involvement is a vital factor in determining whether or not road trauma is reduced over the long term, and road safety initiatives that have a history of community involvement and evaluated outcomes are often the winners both on the roads, and in the awards," she said.
2015 will see a new award category introduced, acknowledging the work done by young people to improve road safety in their local communities.
"The Queensland Youth Road Safety Award was created following feedback from the Safer Roads, Safer Queensland Community Forum, and will recognise a young Queenslander who has developed a campaign or initiative to improve road safety for other young Queenslanders," Professor Haworth said.
Nominations for the 2015 Queensland Road Safety Awards can be made online at www.carrsq.qut.edu.au/qrsa/submit.jsp until June 24.
Winners of the 2015 Queensland Road Safety Awards will be announced in Mackay on August 20, coinciding with the Queensland Road Safety Community Engagement Workshop, and Queensland Road Safety Week.
The awards, an initiative of CARRS-Q are actively supported by the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads, Queensland Police Service, the RACQ and the Motor Accident Insurance Commission.
More information on the awards is available from CARRS-Q on 3138 4568 or www.carrsq.qut.edu.au/qrsa/.
Media contact:
Sandra Hutchinson, QUT Media (Tue, Wed), 07 3138 9449 or media@qut.edu.au
After hours, Rose Trapnell, 0407 585 901
