QUT's Centre for Accident Research & Road Safety - Queensland is calling for Mackay residents to share their practical and positive road safety programs designed to cut the state's road toll.
Nominations for the 2015 Queensland Road Safety Awards, run by CARRS-Q, have opened and the winners will be announced at a ceremony in Mackay on August 20.
After taking out the 2013 Queensland Road Safety Industry and Business Award with a truck driver fatigue management project, CARRS-Q Acting Director Professor Narelle Haworth said Mackay, and surrounding areas, were no strangers to winning.
"The Mackay Road Accident Action Group's (RAAG) initiative to reduce truck driver fatigue along the Bruce Highway was a practical and positive road safety program being run to benefit the community," Professor Haworth said.
"The group surveyed more than 270 truck drivers at a 'truckie reviver' stop at the upgraded Waverly Creek rest area and found a need for more heavy vehicle rest areas along the Bruce Highway, in particular north of Mackay.
"The project was about identifying improvements to create safer travelling options for heavy vehicle drivers on the Bruce Highway and also on similar roads."
Professor Haworth said in 2011 Mooranbah fire fighter Adrian Plahn was awarded a commendation for his work in raising awareness about the dangers of fatigue by running a 72-hour non-stop broadcast on local radio.
"This campaign demonstrated to listeners the reduction in function, capacity and cognition that occurs due to fatigue," she said.
Professor Haworth said community involvement was a vital factor in determining whether or not the road toll was reduced over the long term.
"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.
"The awards have consistently generated high calibre entries and there has been significant improvement made in road safety by previous award winners."
This year for the first time a new award category has been introduced to acknowledge the work of 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, or group of young people, who have 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 http://www.carrsq.qut.edu.au/qrsa/submit.jsp until June 24.
Award winners will be announced in Mackay on August 20, coinciding with the Queensland Road Safety Community Engagement Workshop, and Queensland Road Safety Week.
"We are looking forward to bringing the awards ceremony to Mackay, and supporting RAAG in their ongoing involvement in road safety throughout Central Queensland," Professor Haworth said.
"Their Port to Mine tour, which will be held the day after the awards, will be a great opportunity for people to see first-hand the different road environments and safety issues affecting the Central Queensland community."
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/.
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