Slow down on roads, say council and police

Central Coast Council and local police have partnered again to reduce casualties from speed-related crashes on local roads through an education and awareness campaign during May.

The road safety campaign coincides with National Road Safety Week (May 5-12), which encourages drivers across Australia to slow down on the roads, look out for others and make safe decisions so no-one is injured or loses their life on our roads – including from the result of speeding.

Central Coast Traffic and Highway Patrol Acting Inspector Neil Prest said speeding had devastating consequences for the community but was preventable.

“Unfortunately, speeding remains the number one contributing factor in road casualty crashes on the Central Coast with the majority of all injury and fatal crashes occurring on roads with a 50km/h speed limit,” he said.

“All drivers have the power to make positive choices every time they are behind the wheel, and these can reduce the rate of injury or death – especially on local roads where there are often children, older road users, pedestrians, or cyclists around.

“Drivers are reminded that 50km/h is the default speed limit in built-up urban areas in NSW, unless signposted otherwise.

“There will be an increased police presence on Central Coast local roads, and the message is clear for speeding drivers ‘Stop it…Or cop it’.”

Director Infrastructure Services Boris Bolgoff said Council was well positioned to support road safety awareness campaigns on a local level and help change driver behaviour.

“These campaigns are two of numerous road safety initiatives that Council delivers as part of an ongoing partnership with local Police and Transport for NSW, under the Local Government Road Safety Program to improve road safety on the Central Coast,” he said.

“Council undertakes several initiatives to assist with reducing speed related crashes on Central Coast roads, including the placement of vehicle activated speed signage to alert motorists of their current speed, conducting traffic surveys which obtain speed data that may be utilised by NSW Police for targeted enforcement, and the sharing of road safety messaging with our local community.

“The message for drivers to slow down on local roads will be boosted to our community through a number of communication and promotional activities, including roadside signage, street banners and a social media campaign.”