Insurance Commission recognises the best in regional road safety

5 October 2018

The finalists have been announced for the Insurance Commission of Western Australia Regional Safety Award at the 2018 Western Australian Regional Achievement and Community Awards.

The Insurance Commission sponsors the award to recognise public initiatives that promote road safety in regional communities. In the last year, the Insurance Commission received around 2,400 new motor injury insurance claims in regional Western Australia, paying out over $90 million to those injured.

Kane Blackman, Commission Secretary at the Insurance Commission, says: “There is an over-representation of regional crashes in vehicle accident statistics, and the impact of a crash reaches everyone in those communities.

“It is encouraging to see award nominations from so many regional communities taking positive action to make our roads safer. The Insurance Commission promotes road safety to reduce the number and severity of car crash injuries, leading to fewer insurance claims, which benefits all drivers through less pressure on insurance premiums.”

The finalists for the 2018 Regional Safety Award are:

• Narembeen Community Resource Centre, Narembeen
• Rotary Club of Geraldton, Geraldton
• Northam Local Drug Action Group, Northam

Narembeen Community Resource Centre created the week-long event, S.O.C.K. – Save Our Country Kids. Following five road fatalities in 2016, the Narembeen community responded to get the road safety message to the front of people’s minds. The Centre coordinated the week with activities ranging from powerful stories on social media, free coffee for drivers, ‘Fluro Friday’ hi-vis day, school visits by police, to a community remembrance event.

Rotary Club of Geraldton conducts a driver education program for Year 10 and 11 Midwest students prior to their licence application. The program addresses issues such as fatigue, seatbelts, excessive speed, driver distraction and driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The program consists of six interactive sessions to encourage safer young drivers and recognises shared responsibility for road safety and trauma prevention.

Northam Local Drug Action Group, in collaboration with Northam Roadwise Committee and other stakeholders, created the #AvonLocalsDrivingChange campaign. With Wheatbelt road crashes and road trauma statistics double the regional average, the Group wanted to create conversations about road safety. The campaign reached over 60,000 people on social media and 50,000 through radio. The campaign has become a model for other regional communities.

Kane Blackman continues: “We would like to congratulate each of the finalists for creating innovative initiatives that have successfully engaged their respective communities to put the spotlight on road safety. By working together to influence driver behaviour, we can help reduce the toll on our regional roads.

“We wish the finalists success on the night, and going forward with their community campaigns.”

The winner will be announced at the awards evening on 19 October 2018, receiving a $2,000 prize and recognition for their efforts. Last year’s winner was New Norcia local Cory Payne who educates young people on road safety, after being critically injured in a car crash in 2014.