Suncorp has teamed up with the Australian Road Safety Foundation (ARSF) for the second year to raise awareness of its Rural Road Safety Month, a month-long national safety initiative targeting high-risk rural roads.
New research by Suncorp and ARSF found that one in three Australian drivers admit they’re more likely to undertake risky behaviour when driving on rural roads, with two-thirds of all national road deaths occurring in these areas
“Every day our team witness the impact road trauma has on our customers and our regional communities, which is why we are backing action,” said Matthew Kayrooz, Suncorp’s head of compulsory third-party (CTP) insurance. “Safe roads are critical to keeping our regional and rural communities great places to live, visit, and work – so I encourage each of us to take a personal pledge to drive safely not just throughout the month but well after the campaign finishes.”
Russell White, Australian Road Safety Foundation chief executive, urged Australian motorists to do their part in reducing rural road toll.
“While there are a number of factors that contribute to the regional road toll, it’s everyday Australians that hold the key to safer roads,” White said. “The research has told us that drivers are taking risks on rural roads because they’re either less likely to get caught or perceive there to be fewer dangers. We will continue to see a significant and unnecessary loss of life on regional roads until we make a collective effort to shift this mentality so that safety is front of mind for all road users. Acknowledging that everyday road users have a personal responsibility is the first step and it’s our hope that Rural Road Safety Month will encourage drivers to choose road safety and turn this sentiment into real action.”
