Fatality Free Friday commenced in 2007 through the Australian Road Safety Foundation and has continued since then – now recognised as Australia’s largest national community-based road safety program. The Fatality Free Friday program seeks to increase education to road users and ensure a fatality-free day on all Australian roads.
Recent statistics show that one in four drivers admit to taking road risks since the implementation of COVID19 lockdowns. These risks include an escalation of speeding, followed by using mobile phones whilst driving, running red lights or stop signs, or driving after a few drinks.
Two thirds of Australian road users believe that the roads are safer due to lockdowns and less cars on the road. However, the national year-to-date road toll has only declined by 12.5% in comparison to the same period in the previous year.
Speed is the most common form of bad driving behaviour with two thirds of road users admitting to speeding with one in three drivers admitting to speeding on at least a weekly basis. Many passengers admit that they are not comfortable in telling their drivers to slow down when speeding or to stop using their mobile phones, with many saying they just don’t think it’s their place to say anything. This alarming information has caused a push to have people speak up and educate one another on the risks caused by their behaviour.
As of 14 July 2021 there have been 1,138 Australian Road Deaths in the past 12 months. With an increase of 41 deaths compared to 12 months ended August 2020.
Fatality Free Friday will be on 27 May 2022.
If you want to educate yourself in relation to these matters visit the Road and Traffic Education (RATE) Program on www.rateprogram.com.au. Where you will see lectures from a Psychologist, a Criminal and Traffic Lawyer and also a Crash Investigation Expert. There are a number of interactive modules on topics including; drink/ drug driving, crash statistics, road safety, the Fatal 5 killers on our roads, decision making and the law.
Statistics Source: Research conducted by Pure Profile on behalf of the Australian Road Safety Foundation, April 2020, n=1,005 nationally representative by gender, age and location of Australian drivers aged 18 years and over.
