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New Campaign Targets Driver Speed
A new safe speed campaign is expected to unite residents across three Councils to reduce travel speeds when it launches on Saturday, 26 February 2011.
The Safe Speed Promise will be a joint effort between the Cities of Melville, Cockburn and Fremantle and will encourage residents to sign a Safe Speed Promise and commit to driving within the speed limit.
By signing the Safe Speed Promise, drivers commit to: keeping within the speed limit; being a courteous and careful driver; and slowing down to consider cyclists, pedestrians and other road users.
City of Melville Mayor Russell Aubrey said once they have signed the Safe Speed Promise residents would receive a bumper sticker and an air freshener.
“This will remind drivers of their safe speed commitment and demonstrate their respect for other drivers,” he said.
“The goals of this campaign are to reduce speeds on the roads within the Cities of Melville, Cockburn and Fremantle; mobilise the community so that reduced travel speeds are a social norm; increase awareness of appropriate and responsible driving practices; and make the streets safer for vulnerable road users.
“With 193 deaths tragically recorded in Western Australia in 2010, it’s crucial local governments work together with residents to help make streets safer for everyone.
“Travel speeds greatly influence your chances of surviving a crash if it occurs. Higher speeds increase the chances of having a crash in the first place, as stopping distances increase and you have less time to react to emergency situations.
“By uniting on this important topic the Cities of Melville, Cockburn and Fremantle can provide a leadership role and have a greater influence on residents’ driving habits.”
City of Fremantle Mayor Dr Brad Pettitt said, “This is a great initiative that will make our streets safer for the community to use. The City of Fremantle is glad to be working with our neighbouring Councils to make sure this message is clearly heard.”
City of Cockburn Mayor Logan Howlett said, “The City of Cockburn will launch the Safe Speed Promise campaign at its Regional Concert in Manning Park on 5 March, where drivers can sign the promise. The City is pleased to be involved in this partnership promoting road safety.”
Each Council will be responsible for attracting additional pledges by liaising with local schools, police and organisations as well as attending events to attract on the spot sign-ups.
To kick start the Safe Speed Promise campaign and gain initial promises, simultaneous displays will be held at prominent shopping centres.
The displays will take place on a Saturday and will feature pull-up banners and balloons and promise packs for people who sign up on the spot. Anyone who signs the Safe Speed Promise will go into the draw to win a holiday for two to Margaret River or shopping vouchers.
For further information contact 1300 635 845 or go to www.melvillecity.com.au/speedpromise
Safe Speed Promise
The Safe Speed Promise campaign does not aim to make changes to current speed limits, it's simply there to remind people to stick to speed limits and drive courteously. It helps keep road safety top of mind, which is also the purpose of the air fresheners and car stickers.
Despite recent media reports which incorrectly implied the City of Melville Mayor supported a change in residential areas to 40km/hr speed limits (the West Australian has agreed to correct this mistake) – Mayor Russell Aubrey does not support a change to a 40km/hr speed limit, he instead believes all current speed limits should be adhered to.
The Safe Speed Promise is a Roadwise (WALGA) endorsed initiative, which asks drivers to pledge their commitment to driving safely, keeping within the speed limit.
New Campaign Targets Driver Speed
What statistics have been used to justify this proposal? I very much doubt that there have been any significant number of deaths on a suburban street where the primary cause of the accident was a vehicle being driven at 50kmh, so how decreasing the speed limit to 40kmh will reduce this number is beyond me.
The residents of Cockburn, Melville and Fremantle councils may well have indicated that they want a safer community, but that does not mean they support a reduction in the suburban speed limit as the mechanism by which that objective will be achieved. It is very naive to believe that hoons – being those already driving more than 45 kmh above the limit - will change their behaviour just because the speed limit is reduced from 50kmh to 40kmh. My bet is that the number of drivers in the community who regularly exceed the posted speed limit will actually increase if this dumb idea is implemented. The community has to accept that the number of road deaths will never be decreased to nil so long as humans design build and drive the vehicles "causing" these deaths.
Rather than be provided with a bumper sticker and air freshener (woo hoo!) as proudly announced by Mayor Russell Aubrey, I suggest those signing up for the Safe Speed Promise be given a red flag and a bell!