Everyone can be a Road Safety Hero!

The Wairarapa Road Safety Council supports Road Safety Week 2024 (20-26 May), themed "Be a Road Safety Hero." This week acknowledges everyone contributing to safer roads and assisting crash victims, from emergency services to community campaigners. It emphasizes that we all play a role in making journeys safer, promoting best practice examples of how we can change our behaviours for positive community outcomes.

Everyone can be a Road Safety Hero by understanding their responsibility for road safety. Celebrate those who reduce casualties and care for crash victims, and speak up for the right to safe, healthy journeys. Join the community of road safety heroes and make simple changes that lead to positive outcomes.

During Road Safety Week, schools can educate children and parents about road safety heroes and celebrate students who walk, cycle, or use public transport. Organizations can manage road risk through effective policies and driver training, recognizing internal heroes like health & safety staff. Emergency services and road safety professionals can highlight their efforts to reduce casualties. Individuals can pledge to use roads safely and advocate for healthy journeys.

Projects Coordinator, Wairarapa Road Safety Council Holly Hullena says "we can all get on board in some way to raise awareness of road safety". 

"We all have to share our roading network to get to and from wherever we are destined to be. This includes our paths, so whether you are walking, cycling, a passenger or a driver - we all share a collective responsibility to look out for each other". 

Wairarapa Road Safety Council are actively seeking feedback and thoughts from the community over road safety week. Bruce Pauling, Road Safety Manager will be hosting a stall in each town centre where locals can pick up goodies and information around all facets of road safety, even share thoughts in a short survey that could result in a lucky participant walking away with a $100 supermarket voucher.

Pauling says "Your thoughts as locals driving and travelling on our local roads daily, hold great insight and we would love to capture as much feedback as possible." 

"From sharing your thoughts, we can advocate for safer roads for Wairarapa locals and visitors".

If you are not able to visit over road safety week, we have a link available so you can share your thoughts online -  https://forms.gle/qSsNpfNMBHdSDzKG8 Entries close 31st May 2024.

Celebrate local road safety heroes, like school crossing patrols or those who campaigned for safe cycle paths. Share your gratitude for those who make a difference in your community.

Friday 24th of May is the 3rd Annual Yellow Day for Wairarapa in which businesses, schools, groups and organisations can dress in yellow to highlight road safety awareness. This year all photos shared on the Wairarapa Road Safety Council Facebook page will go in the draw to win a morning tea shout thanks to Ye Olde Bakehouse, Masterton.

Throughout the week, you can also pick up reflective back pack covers and first aid kits, puncture repair kits from our 5 town libraries or visiting My Ride or Cycling Tom Bike Shop in Masterton. While stocks last.