Today we recognise Fatality Free Friday, Australia’s largest community-based road safety initiative, led by the Australian Road Safety Foundation (ARSF), that encourages people to stop and think about their driving behaviour, and the positive impact safer choices have on the community.
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Suncorp Group is urging drivers to choose road safety this Fatality Free Friday (FFF).
An annual campaign by the Australian Road Safety Foundation, FFF launched in 2007 with Suncorp’s support and aims for zero road deaths on the last Friday in May.
The theme for 2024 is “Fatality Free Friday is about a fatality free future – that’s the big picture... And the big picture start with you."
Suncorp Commercial & Personal Injury Insurance CEO Michael Miller said, “Fatality Free Friday is about making a commitment to yourself, your family, friends and the local community to do your best to use our roads safely.”
Suncorp Commercial & Personal Injury Insurance CEO Michael Miller
The current road statistics tell us that we need safer roads, and by each of us making the promise to drive safely on Fatality Free Friday, we are one step closer to achieving that.
Australia’s road toll is shocking, and it is increasing year-on-year
Australia offers us thousands of kilometres of highways and innumerable dirt roads to explore. However, driving on our roads carries a tragic safety risk, according to the devastating national road toll.
Last year, Australia recorded its third straight annual rise in road fatalities with 1,273 deaths, which was almost 8 per cent (7.9%) higher than in 2022.*
This worrying trend has continued into 2024, with the current road toll up another 7 per cent on last year (207 deaths at the end of February compared to 193 for the same period last year).
*Australian Government, Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts Road Deaths, Annual Road Deaths Database, Accessed February 2024
What are we doing wrong on our roads that contributes to injuries and fatalities?
The alarming research shows more than two-thirds (68%) of Australian drivers admit to breaking road laws, with 4 in 10 (42%) drivers committing an offence at least monthly.
The top three road laws broken by Australian drivers included:
1. Speeding (48%)
2. Driving fatigued (32%) and
3. Using a mobile phone (27%).
**Research conducted by Pure Profile on behalf of Australian Road Safety Foundation between 12-27 March 2024 with a sample size of n=1513 adults aged 18+years
Australian Government, Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts Road Deaths, Annual Road Deaths Database, Accessed February 2024
As Australia’s largest personal injury insurer, Suncorp Group understands the trauma that can result from a car crash
Suncorp Group is committed to working together to prevent future road trauma and change the devastating statistics.
Executive General Manager, CTP (Compulsory Third Party), Matthew Pearson said the promotion of initiatives like FFF – along with the ARSF partnership – demonstrates Suncorp’s increased emphasis on prevention.
“Road fatalities have a devastating impact on the community, so by generating awareness around road safety and how we each play a part, we’re helping to protect what matters,” he said.
Suncorp Executive General Manager, CTP (Compulsory Third Party), Matthew Pearson
Over time, we've shifted our approach as an insurer to apply a greater focus on prevention.
Campaigns such as Fatality Free Friday encourage people to really stop and think about the impact of their decisions on the road, hopefully resulting in safer choices and fewer road accidents.
ARSF Founder and Chief Executive Officer Russell White said the research reiterated that a future free from road fatalities could only be achieved if people acknowledged their role within the bigger picture.
“At the end of the day, the fatal five - speeding, driving inhibited, driving fatigued, not wearing a seat belt and being distracted - are choices that an individual makes,” Mr White said.
“The majority of our road crashes are the result of unsafe choices so we need all Queenslanders to take responsibility, put safety first and help us save thousands of families from the heartache of road trauma.”
Raising awareness about road safety via initiatives like Fatality Free Friday is proven to help make a difference
In a positive sign of hope for curbing this upward trend in fatalities, the ARSF research also indicated the power heightened road safety awareness has on individual behaviour, and the importance of wide-scale reminders through campaigns like FFF.
Just being confronted with the road toll numbers inspires 3 in 4 Australians (75%) to think or act more responsibly.
As a driver, pedestrian or passenger – we can all contribute to reducing road trauma.
Road users looking to support a fatality-free big picture vision can share their personal commitment by visiting arsf.com.au or via ARSF’s Instagram (@ausroadsafety) and Facebook (@fatalityfreefriday).
Suncorp Group is committed to research and advocacy supporting national road safety
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New research has revealed a third of Australians have fessed up to speeding through school zones, with some even excusing the reckless behaviour because they couldn’t see any children at the time.
