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Queensland's largest compulsory third party (CTP) insurer has teamed up with the Australian Road Safety Foundation to encourage all road users to make a pledge to road safety.
As part of its support for Fatality Free Friday, Suncorp said it will be using its social media channels to help raise awareness of the road safety pledge and change people’s driving behaviours.
Dan Wilkinson, Suncorp’s executive manager of QLD CTP, said the company has been encouraging thousands of Australian drivers to take the road safety pledge since the annual road safety event's inception in 2007.
“Unlike many other states, CTP insurance regulations in Queensland deem that people injured on the road aren’t covered by CTP insurance unless another driver can be held responsible,” Wilkinson said. “This means that every year thousands of Queenslanders, including children, are not covered by CTP insurance for their injuries.”
Last year, 1,225 people lost their lives on Australian roads, despite a 6% drop in the road toll from the previous year. And of its 365 days, only 12 days were fatality-free, only two of which were Fridays.
“We know that Fridays are one of the most dangerous days for motor-vehicle accident injuries and fatalities, particularly in the afternoon when commuters are rushing to get home, often exhausted from the week and feeling impatient behind the wheel,” Wilkinson said. “We also know that speeding, not wearing a seat belt or proper helmet, driving distracted, and drink or drug driving can all lead to fatal crashes – but many of these can be avoided with better choices. Clearly, we all need to do more to drive down the number of deaths on our roads.”
Road users can demonstrate their commitment to road safety by taking the pledge at www.fatalityfreefriday.com or by adding the Fatality Free Friday pledge to their Facebook page.
