Plea To Slow Down And Save Lives

Central Coast drivers are being urged to slow down to save lives, with new data revealing 64 people have died on local roads over the past five years.

Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast and Member for Terrigal Adam Crouch said more than two thirds of all lives lost on NSW roads occur in rural and regional areas, including on the Central Coast.

“Our community has witnessed 64 fatalities and a total of 1,146 serious injuries on local roads in the period between 2014/15 and 2018/19,” Mr Crouch said.

“Alcohol, fatigue and illicit drugs are responsible for a number of fatalities, but speeding is the most common factor during this five year period, contributing to 45% per cent of fatalities on the Central Coast.

“Every single one of these deaths and serious injuries has had – and continues to have – a devastating impact on networks of families and friends.

“Whether you’re a driver, passenger, motorbike rider or pedestrian, every decision you make on the road matters and we all have a responsibility to make safe choices.”

Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Paul Toole said August is the Rural Road Safety Month, an initiative of the Australian Road Safety Foundation.

“Every time you get behind the wheel, the choices we make can have fatal consequences,” Mr Toole said.

“The NSW Government is committed to making roads safer for everyone, which is why we’re investing more than $640 million in the Safer Roads Program for regional NSW, along with $140 million from the Federal Government to roll out life-saving projects.”

For more information on the Safer Roads Program, go to: https://roadsafety.transport.nsw.gov.au/stayingsafe/safer-roads/index.html.