23/4/01
Country drivers who don't wear their seat belt will be the focus of the latest road safety campaign announced today by the Minister responsible for Road Safety, Michelle Roberts.
In Albany attending a Cabinet meeting, Mrs Roberts said country drivers were three times more likely than metropolitan drivers to put their lives at risk by not wearing a seat belt.
"One of the major target groups will be male drivers under the age of 40 who are the biggest risk takers," she said.
"A survey has highlighted a number of reasons which include 'it will never happen to me because I'm a good driver'.
"Another is that it's OK to leave your seat belt off if you are only going a short distance.
"Both lines of thinking can lead to death or serious injuries, because no matter how good a driver you think you are or how far you are driving, the unexpected can happen."
Announcing the Rural Restraints campaign, Mrs Roberts said drivers involved in a road crash who were not wearing a seat belt were 10 times more likely to die and three times more likely to be seriously injured than those who were safely buckled up.
"Sixty per cent of people involved in road crashes who are not wearing their seat belt receive serious injuries and one-third die," she said.
Mrs Roberts said in rural WA there was also a perception that people killed or injured in country crashes were unfamiliar with those road conditions, but crash statistics highlighted that for all crashes, only five per cent of drivers lived outside the region.
"All these facts are brought out in the latest Road Safety Council education campaign through television, press and radio advertisements, outdoor advertising, posters, litter bags, stickers and fliers," she said.
"The campaign will also be supported by the police focusing on seat belts, which will be not be expected for those country drivers who think they are unlikely to be caught breaking the law.
"Local initiatives will be supported by rural RoadWise committees and Caltex and Gull service stations will be also promoting the message with on-site materials and messages."
Mrs Roberts said widespread community understanding of the issues and dangers could make an enormous difference to the success of the campaign and save lives.
"There are peer group pressures and other social factors that lead young male drivers to put their lives at risk," she said.
"To tell a friend or a loved one to 'belt up' may be the best advice you could give if it saves their life or helps keep them from being seriously injured."
Media contact: Mark Thompson on 9213 6600
