The Australian Road Safety Federation has extended an initiative it hopes will reverse the statistics and start to see a decline in the number of deaths and injuries.

Grampians residents are being urged to help make streets safer by applying Life Saving stickers to their yellow and red wheelie bins. 

The large stickers, which feature life-size images of children stepping towards the road and speed limit signs, are designed to provide a strong visual road safety reminder to motorists. 

The images are based on research, which found that signs that depicted motion, resulted in faster reaction times and increased vigilance among would-be drivers, which could ultimately lead to faster stopping times.

Between January and May this year, 67 pedestrians were killed on Australian roads. 

The Life Saving sticker campaign provides a real-time reminder to motorists to reduce their speed.

If someone is exceeding the speed limit, we hope these stickers will prompt them to immediately slow down. 

Even small changes in vehicle speed can have a dramatic impact on stopping distances.

Of the 67 pedestrians killed so far this year, seven were under 16 years of age.

We also know that the statistics show fatalities are higher on week days when over 82 per cent of this year’s fatalities have been recorded.

Victoria has recorded the second highest pedestrian fatality rate so far in 2016 accounting for more than 25 per cent of deaths.

Our research tells us that for every fatality, there is between 20 and 30 injuries. 

The Australian Road Safety Foundation launched the initiative in Queensland earlier this year as an education program. 

It makes the life-size stickers available at cost, $10 each, plus postage. 

We are also seeing councils and corporate organisations purchasing the stickers in bulk to save their constituents or customers postage costs and encourage local use.

Residents interested in purchasing a sticker for their bin can contact the federation hotline on 1300 723 843, email info@australianroadsafetyfoundation.com or visit www.facebook.com/fatalityfreefriday

RUSSELL WHITE

Australian Road Safety Federation Chief Executive Officer

We have seen articles and letters recently from a local landowner who is in the invidious position of having a four-lane freeway built through her property as part of the Western Highway duplication.

She has our sympathy. We are cognisant of reports she has commissioned.

However after receiving advice from our own highly respected environmental experts, we have formed the view that no option in the Mount Langi Ghiran area is at all suitable for the large construction VicRoads has in mind.

The whole area is unique and worth protecting.

What was VicRoads thinking?

We have asked that engineers leave the current highway as is in that area, with some safety treatments only.

With suitable signage, travellers will come to appreciate that a slower speed and driving more carefully is worth it for the sake of saving the wonderfully unique vegetation and the fauna it supports.

After all, the roadsides themselves are known around the state for their beauty and majestic trees and are a tourist attraction in their own right.

HELEN LEWERS

Western Highway Alternative Mindsets