Campaign to keep drivers safe on regional roads


The Roxby Downs SES truck now features messages encouraging regional drivers to stay safe.

More than 70 per cent of lives lost on South Australian roads are in regional areas.

To help curb this number, the state's emergency services are now featuring road safety campaign material on their vehicles to remind drivers to take extra care on our roads, particularly in the regions.

Four vehicles feature the messaging as part of the THINK! Road Safety campaign, a new State Government initiative that is supported by SA Police, the CFS, the SES and the Department for Infrastructure and Transport.

CFS trucks from the Blackwood and Yankalilla brigades and SES trucks from the Roxby Downs and Murray Bridge units feature the campaign material, reminding road users of actions they can take to keep safe.

This includes resting every two hours, wearing seatbelts and sticking to the speed limit.

SAPOL Assistant Commissioner Ian Parrott said there had been too many lives lost on South Australian roads this year, with most on regional roads.

“All emergency services workers are affected by road crashes, and it’s great that the CFS and SES have come together with us to promote this important road safety message,” he said.

SES Chief Officer Chris Beattie said SES volunteers were often first on the scene to road crashes, especially in country areas.

“Using their skills and specialist equipment, our volunteers are the ones tasked with extracting victims from road crashes," Mr Beattie said.

"They see firsthand the devastating impacts road crashes have on individuals and importantly our communities."

CFS Deputy Chief Officer Georgie Cornish said first responders in regional areas were likely to attend incidents involving people known to them.

“Our 63 specialised road crash rescue brigades attend on average four road crash incidents every week," she said.

"As regional first responders, CFS volunteers are likely to attend crashes involving someone known to them, adding to the impact these incidents have on the lives of our volunteers and their loved ones."

THINK! Road Safety is a South Australian Government initiative aimed at helping drivers, cyclists and pedestrians think about their behaviours and actions when on the road; and to remind all South Australians that road incidents can be avoided when everyone thinks about road safety.

Before you head out on the road, THINK! Road Safety.

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