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Drive safely this Christmas, urges Fremantle Mayor

THE City of Fremantle is joining forces with the WA Local Government Association's RoadWise program to help support the 11th annual White Ribbons for Road Safety campaign this Christmas.

Running from December 3 to January 7, the campaign encourages everyone in the community to come back safely every time they drive, walk or cycle during the festive period.

People are asked to get involved by wearing white ribbons, or tying them to car antennas, and also by downloading an electronic-white ribbon from www.roadwise.asn.au to send via e-mail to friends and family.

Fremantle Mayor Peter Tagliaferri is urging people to stop and think about their actions on the road this festive season.

“As you get ready for the festive season, it’s important to slow down, wear a seatbelt, avoid driving when tired, keep away from texting and fiddling with iPods while driving and make sure you don’t drink and drive,” he said.

“This campaign focuses on encouraging the community to look out for each other and make road safety a priority during December, Christmas and New Year.

“People need to think of the bigger road safety picture and remember that road safety is about safer drivers, in safer cars, on safer roads, travelling at safer speeds.

“Every year about 200 people are killed and nearly 3000 are seriously injured on WA roads – our televisions bring scenes of devastation into our homes all too frequently with tragedy striking families across the state.”

Mayor Tagliaferri said the white ribbons also showed support for the WA Police Service, RoadWise committees, Road Safety Council of WA and other local governments and their efforts in reducing road crashes and road trauma.

“We’re appealing to people from all walks of life to really take care on our roads to avoid a tragedy and to share the message of road safety with friends, family and colleagues to reduce road trauma this Christmas,” he said.

Mayor Tagliaferri helped to launch this year’s campaign in the port city at Monument Hill Memorial Reserve with help from City of Fremantle staff.

White ribbons are available free from the City of Fremantle’s Service & Information Centre at 8 William Street from December 3.

• More details about the campaign are available at the website www.roadwise.asn.au/news/wribbons07