Newsletter 9 May 2008 5 May 2008 13 May 2008 14 May 2008

News

15 May 2008
Automotive retailers sponsoring Fatality Free Friday are doing more than just donating to the road safety cause - they're also helping raise wider awareness of this important campaign with some high profile activities.

For several weeks the Motorama Group of Companies has been catching the eyes of Brisbane motorists with a billboard promoting the day:

Meanwhile, the Suttons Group of Companies is spreading the message to Sydney audiences through full-page advertising in the Sydney Telegraph:

Please support all our supporters. You can find a full list of Fatality Free Friday sponsors and supporters here.

14 May 2008
Working Against Culpable Driving display at Victoria Gardens Shopping Centre, Richmond:

12 May 2008
Victorian road safety group Working Against Culpable Driving to stage graphic displays for Fatality Free Friday:

"...displaying 332 Australian Flags to represent the lives lost on Victorian roads last year and white Flags to represent the lives lost so far this year, sadly over 120 at this point. We ask if you can support us this week by promoting Fatality Free Friday and urge drivers to take the pledge and drive safely."

12 May 2008
Once again, Australia's premier motor racing series has thrown its weight behind Fatality Free Friday with a 'lights on for safety' warm-up lap prior to the BigPond 400 in Perth on Sunday 11 May.

Fatality Free Friday is also featured on the V8 Supercars web site and in their latest newsletter, while some of Australia's top V8 Supercars drivers recently signed Fatality Free Friday safe driving pledges for the second year running.

9 May 2008
The Australian Karting Association and some of its most successful graduates - V8 Supercars drivers Rick Kelly, Mark Winterbottom and Andrew Thompson - are right behind Fatality Free Friday:

Winterbottom, who drives for the Ford Performance Racing outfit, started his motorsport career in karts at the age of 10 and he believes the lessons learnt on the karting track have not only assisted him in his racing career but also when he is driving on the road.

“By the time I got my road licence I’d already been racing for almost six years and racing karts at 110 km/h taught me respect for a motor vehicle,” said Winterbottom.

“I didn’t have the need to go out on the street to try and get a thrill, you’ve got to know your limits. A racetrack is there to be raced on and push the car to the limits whereas the road is there to be used safely and get from A to B.

“While I’ve signed the pledge for ‘Fatality Free Friday’ everyday for me is the same, each time I get behind the wheel of a motor vehicle safety is the number one thing and speeding is always left until I’m on the race circuit.”

Read the full media release from the Australian Karting Association.

Update: V8 Supercars drivers sign up:

Rick Kelly - HSV Dealer Team

Lee Holdsworth and Michael Caruso - Garry Rogers Motorsport

Andrew Thompson - PWR Racing

Garth Tander and Mark Skaife - Holden Racing Team

Mark Winterbottom - Ford Performance Racing

9 May 2008
The Municipal Association of Victoria urges support for Fatality Free Friday in its monthly newsletter:

"The second Fatality Free Friday will be held on Friday 16 May. Organisers are asking road users to ensure a fatality free Friday by being extra careful. If successful, this initiatives may be extended to every Friday. Numerous councils participate in this initiative and the MAV encourages other municipalities to get involved to try and reduce the average of 5.3 fatalities daily."

7 May 2008
Scott Prince, co-captain of the Jetstar Gold Coast Titans NRL team, speaks about his personal experience of the road toll - the loss of his father seven years ago - and becomes an ambassador for Fatality Free Friday.

Scott's story on the Titans web site

AAP report in The Brisbane Times.

6 May 2008
Queensland Shadow Transport Minister Tim Nicholls writes in support of Fatality Free Friday and notes:

"If drivers could consider every day as Fatality Free Friday perhaps we would see a substantial reduction in the State's road toll."

Read the full letter.

1 May 2008
Official Fatality Free Friday supporters to date:

• 4BC - Long term AM radio partner, recommitted in Jan 2008
• Moreton Bay Regional Council - Associate Partner - Feb 2008
• Queensland Rail - Alliance Partner - Feb 2008
• V8 Supercars recommitted in March 2008
• Suncorp Insurance - Official Supporter - March 2008
• Armor All - Official Supporter - March 2008
• Motorama - Alliance Partner - March 2008
• Zupps Group - - Alliance Partner - March 2008
• Dealer Solutions - Alliance Partner - March 2008
• Energex - Gold Ambassador - April 2008
• Tony Ireland Group - Silver Ambassador- April 2008
• Harrier National - Alliance Partner - April 2008
• Tony Ireland Group - Alliance Partner - April 2008
• Anderson Auto City - Alliance Partner - April 2008
• Auto Corner Pty Ltd - Alliance Partner - April 2008

Thank you all!

24 April 2008
Alpine Shire Council in Victoria pledges its commitment to Fatality Free Friday, and to raising awareness of road safety throughout the community for the rest of the year.

Council officer Steven Swann says the day is 'such a simple idea, but what a great concept for getting the road safety message across'.

26 March 2008
Queensland Transport Minister John Mickel writes in support of Fatality Free Friday and highlights:

"...road safety is a community responsibility. I hope this event will serve as a reminder to all road users to consider road safety every day."

Read the full letter.

2007

27 April 2007
State Government electronic road signboards across Queensland promote Fatality Free Friday.

26 April 2007
The Western Australia Office of Road Safety and Road Safety Council sends radio stations black boxes with white crosses inside with this media release highlighting Fatality Free Friday.

24 April 2007
Hawkesbury City Council, the largest Local Government area in the Sydney Metropolitan region, takes up the Fatality Free Friday challenge and encourages the Hawkesbury community to join them.

"Hawkesbury Council will be supporting this initiative by asking Council staff to sign the Fatality Free Friday pledge and donating a gold coin to raise funds for the Children's Hospital at Westmead. Customers coming into Council will also have the opportunity to sign the pledge and join this good cause," says Mayor Rex Stubbs.

24 April 2007
Penrith Council, Sydney, encourages staff to take the Fatality Free Friday Pledge and make a gold coin donation to charity.

23 April 2007
The general meeting of the Gold Coast City Council in Queensland officially endorses Fatality Free Friday following a motion by Cr Rob Molhoek:

I propose that Council show its support for Fatality Free Friday, an Australia-wide road safety campaign to be conducted on April 27 as part of the United Nations first annual Global Road Safety Week. This program was developed by Gold Coast resident and driver safety expert Russell White, who many councillors might know from his excellent work at the Holden Performance Driving Centre.

Across Australia almost six people a day are killed on our roads and Fridays are one of the most deadliest days. Fatality Free Friday asks individuals, both privately and through their work places to undertake a pledge to drive safely to make April 27 a fatality-free Friday. Mr White hopes that if people can do this on one day, then it can be achieved throughout the year.

As a father of a teenage driver I personally support this initiative and believe this is something we should support as a Council with many employees and fleet vehicles.

22 April 2007
The entire V8 Supercar Championship Series field turns on their headlights at the Placemakers V8 International in New Zealand to highlight Fatality Free Friday. A few days earlier, the drivers signed the Fatality Free Friday Pledge.

21 April 2007
The Australian Karting Association gets behind Fatality Free Friday and makes it front page news on its website.

19 April 2007
Australia's best racing car drivers get behind Fatality Free Friday and get set to shine a light on road safety at the Placemakers V8 International in New Zealand. The entire V8 Supercar Championship Series field will turn on their headlights for the formation lap to highlight the national road safety initiative Fatality Free Friday and the “Lights on for Safety” campaign. Media Release

11 April 2007
The Brisbane Courier Mail newspaper reports Fatality Free Friday 'goes global'.

26 March 2007
The Zupps Group - Queensland's largest privately owned motor group - takes the Fatality Free Friday Pledge, led by Zupps Group of Companies Deputy Managing Director Terri Zupp.

26 March 2007
Queensland Transport backs Fatality Free Friday

15 March 2007
The Motorcycle Riders Association of the ACT lists Fatality Free Friday as part of UN Global Road Safety Week.

12 March 2007
Hobsons Bay City Council in Victoria schedules a media campaign and one-day event for Fatality Free Friday as part of UN Global Road Safety Week.