‘Driver pledges’ to keep families safe during the Christmas break
14 December 2009.
Rev the Hon. Dr Gordon Moyes, NSW Parliamentary Leader of Family First, has urged drivers to drive safely and with caution during the Christmas break. With more families spending their holidays locally, Dr Moyes encouraged ‘driver pledges’ to reduce the number of fatalities in the State’s roads.
Dr Moyes stated, “Family First is appalled at the loss of lives in horrific car smashes coming from Christmas parties and while on holidays.” Dr Moyes has vowed to reduce the carnage among young adults coming home from parties during the holidays where speed and alcohol end many young lives through the introduction of ‘driver pledges’.
“Family First encourages a ‘good guy pledge’ where girls indicate before they go out that they will only go to a party with a guy who pledges to come home by taxi or with a sober driver. We also encourage a ‘terrific dad pledge’ to save family deaths on roads where dads pledge not to drive families home if they drink alcohol at functions”, Dr Moyes stated.
Road crashes still cause more than 400 deaths and 25,000 injuries each year on the State’s roads. Apart from the suffering of victims and their loved ones, the financial cost to our community is around $3.7 billion each year. Speed accounted for 43 per cent of all vehicle crashes, alcohol for more than 20 per cent and fatigue for 18 per cent.
New figures reveal that over 420 people have died on the State’s roads so far in 2009 – a result that has eclipsed the total of 328 for the whole of 2008.
Dr Moyes continued, “As a concerned father and grandfather, I am worried that the issue of speeding and drink driving is not getting through to so many drivers. We all have a role to play in reducing the number of fatalities. This is critical as we approach the Christmas holidays next week when families hit the roads.”
Tragedy and death has plagued NSW roads last week in separate road fatalities. Five members of a family who fled Afghanistan to find a new life in Australia were killed after a horrific crash on Picton Road, in the State’s southwest. In Port Stephens, a 45-year-old man was killed and his 19-year-old male passenger was injured after crashing on a driveway. In Lake Conjola, an 81-year-old man died in a single-car crash. In Orange, a 42-year-old man died after appearing to lose control of his motorcycle.
“Christmas is a time to be with loved ones. But with increased death on the State’s roads, it becomes a tragedy and nightmare for many families. I encourage all drivers to be patient and not to engage in risky behaviour while driving, and most importantly, slow down”, Dr Moyes added.
Dr Moyes concluded, “We praise those drivers who pledge themselves to responsible actions before they go out. We also praise those who suggests at the end of the night that a sober driver gets behind the wheel.”
END.