Six northern Sydney Councils have partnered to release the 2023 Road Safety calendar, which uses classic historical images to raise awareness around road deaths and injuries.
The Hornsby, Ku-ring-gai, Lane Cove, Northern Beaches, North Sydney and City of Ryde councils have produced the calendar using images that will transport residents back in time, to show how road safety behaviours, technology and laws have dramatically improved and changed in the last century.
The images show how far Australia has come in addressing road safety, reminding local residents that they continue to play a key role in preventing death and serious injuries on the road, and must also adapt to changing safety measures.
Vehicle ownership in Australia has risen from 1.4 million in 1955 to 21 million in 2021, with this increase in traffic and congestion meaning that drivers must be even more mindful of road safety.
Australasian College of Road Safety Chief Executive Officer, Dr Ingrid Johnston, said, “We know that it is never acceptable for people to be killed or seriously injured due to road trauma, and yet around 1,200 people die and 40,000 people suffer serious injuries on Australian roads every year.
“Through ‘Vision Zero’, governments across Australia are working systemically towards the elimination of deaths and serious injuries on our roads by 2050 and we must remember that all road users need to play their part to reach this goal.”
The annual Road Safety Calendar has been delivered to northern Sydney residents since 2001, with the aim of educating and encouraging positive behaviour in all road users, across all ages.
A copy of the free calendar can be obtained from libraries and Council customer service centres within the participating local government areas.
