Road Rules Awareness Week
Road Rules Awareness Week, from 27 February to 5 March 2017, is giving all road users across NSW the opportunity to improve their knowledge on road rules.
One of the top ten misunderstood road rules is that drivers turning into an intersection have to give way to pedestrians crossing the road.
Minister for Roads, Maritime and Freight Melinda Pavey said all road users have a responsibility to observe the road rules for the safety of everyone using the road network.
“Pedestrian fatalities are continuing to rise. In 2016, 74 pedestrians – 19 per cent of the total road toll – were tragically killed on NSW roads, up from 61 in 2015,” Ms Pavey said.
“Figures show a pedestrian struck by a vehicle travelling at 40 km/h has a 25 per cent risk of death, compared to an 85 per cent chance if struck at 60 km/h.”
The Centre for Road Safety has developed easy to understand resources to help road users with some commonly misunderstood road rules, including:
• keeping left and overtaking
• pedestrian safety
• mobile phone laws
• school zones
• seatbelts and child car seats
Parliamentary Secretary for Regional Roads Kevin Anderson said Roads Rules Awareness Week was the perfect time to encourage road users to consider how, by following road rules they can play a part in working towards a zero road toll.
“With more than 350 road rules in NSW, it pays for all road users – including motorists, motorcyclists, pedestrians, and cyclists – to improve their knowledge of any road rules they’re not sure about, including new road rules or regulations,” Mr Anderson said.