Latrobe Local News:
‘Wipe Off 5 to save lives’ urges City

The Transport Accident Commission (TAC) and Latrobe City Council are urging local drivers to reduce their speed

By Latrobe City Council - 14th August 2001 - Back to News

•Tell us your opinion •See what others have said

The Transport Accident Commission (TAC) and Latrobe City Council are urging local drivers to reduce their speed by five kilometres per hour to prevent deaths and serious injuries on our roads.

Latrobe City Community Safety Planner, Henk Harberts, said Latrobe City was backing the TAC’s latest anti-speeding campaign, known as ‘Wipe Off 5’. Mr Harberts said the campaign had been prompted by a study revealing that a significant number of drivers believed that travelling five to ten kilometres over the speed limit was safe.

"The survey results and research confirm that there is no such thing as ‘safe’ speeding. For vulnerable road-users, such as bicyclists and pedestrians, small differences in vehicle travelling speeds can mean the difference between life and death," Mr Harberts said.

"We’re asking citizens to keep an eye on their speedo and drive at the designated speed limit each time they’re behind the wheel. Get into the conscious habit of strictly sticking to the speed limit, not just because that way you’re likely to avoid a speeding ticket, but because you respect your own and other people’s safety," Mr Harberts said.

TAC Chief Executive Officer, Stephen Grant, said road accidents could be reduced by 15 per cent if all motorists were to obey the Wipe Off 5 message.

"Research studies have found that a driver’s risk of crashing doubles with every 5 km/h travelled over the speed limit in a 60 km/h zone," Mr Grant said.

"It is not just the number of accidents but the intensity of those accidents. If every Victorian driver reduced their average travel speed by just 5km/h – last year alone 95 lives could have been saved and more than 1,300 serious injuries prevented," Mr Grant added.

"It’s not worth risking your life or other people’s because you’re running a little late or hurrying to get somewhere. Chances are that travelling five kilometres over the limit won’t save you much time on your trip," Mr Grant concluded.

Source: www.gippsland.com

Published by: latrobecity@gippslander.com

If you are the author of this story you can edit it by clicking here

Note: To start the discussion you will have to login with your member account.

• Latrobe City Council named an Employer of Choice
  Latrobe City Council, recognised as an Employer of Choice in The Australian Business Awards 2020.
• Latrobe City Releases Draft Investment Roadmap for Comment
  Latrobe City Investment Roadmap - ready for public comment.
• Latrobe City Libraries Sensitive Santa Sessions embraced by Community
  Quiet, gentle introduction to Santa for children with sensory needs.
• Latrobe City Advocates for Additional COVID-19 Testing Resources
  Additional COVID testing resources to assist in reducing the lengthy delays requested.
• Latrobe City Gift Card set to Bolster Local Business
  Shop local - your buck stops here.
• Latrobe City’s Australia Day Award Winners Announced
  Awards presented in recognition of significant service to the community.
• Labor Giving City Projects a Leg Up, but Forcing Country Communities to their Knees
  Tangled red and green tape makes it too difficult for people to develop in regional Victoria.
• Volunteers to Offer Disaster Relief
  Volunteers are helping Latrobe City recover from the impacts of the bushfire.
• Shocktober Campaign aims to help Save Lives in Regional Victoria
  Ambulance Victoria are encouraging communities to learn CPR and how to use an Automatic External Defibrillator (AED), everyday 18 Victorians suffer a cardiac arrest, this can happen to anyone anywhere at any time.
• Announcement of New Latrobe City Councillors
  New-look Latrobe City Council.
• Plant Virus Detection, Scent Training Honeybees, Heading off Flystrike Risks
  Your free weekly update on research to benefit farmers.
• Valley public transport cost woes continue
  Northe has renewed calls for a review of the Latrobe Valley’s unfair public transport ticketing structure that places local commuters at a disadvantage. The current MYKI system forces local commuters to pay more than other area across the State.
• Funding For a Woman Building Surveyor in Latrobe City Council
  Local Government to recruit and train surveyors through Women Building Surveyors Program.
• Traralgon Renewable Energy Project Supported by Latrobe City Council
  Renewable energy project at Traralgon Neighbourhood Learning House.
• Helping Baw Baw and Latrobe Prepare for Emergencies
  City Council to receive funding to get ready for emergencies