Speak up for our region’s safety

SOUTHERN Region Assistant Commissioner Mike Condon wants passengers to speak out against car drivers if they’re doing the wrong thing.

In the lead up to Road Safety Week, the region’s top officer says passengers had the opportunity to call-out dangerous driver behaviour.

“We have seen several passengers killed in vehicles where the driver has survived,” Assistant Commissioner Condon said.

“There could have been a conversation that changed that outcome.

“I ask the public to embrace Road Safety Week, think about your role when driving a motor vehicle - it is a privilege to have a driver’s licence.”

Assistant Commissioner Condon said road safety was a personal priority and believed education was key to lowering the death toll.

“It is very frustrating when our people, emergency services, and then the doctors who try to put people back together constantly see the carnage brought about by people making poor decisions,” he said.

“We’ve just got to keep pushing the message out there. I think education is one of the keys to it.

“We have had success in reducing the road toll where we have been pushing the education message.”

Road Safety Week focuses on educating drivers on the Fatal Five with the view of reducing the road toll.

Ten people were killed on the region’s road during the campaign last year.

The region’s road toll is at 13 for the year.

“You can’t blame the road conditions,” Assistant Commissioner Condon said.

“We want to, as our objective, have zero fatalities on our roads.”

Assistant Commissioner Condon yesterday marked seven weeks in the role.