The grants help community groups and registered charities across NSW to develop small-scale, local projects to increase road safety awareness in local communities and promote safer behaviours on our roads.

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The program provides funding of up to $5,000 for smaller projects and up to $30,000 for larger initiatives.

Councillor (Cr) Sally Townley said she would love to see someone in Coffs Harbour championing the cause.

“Helping kids understand safe behaviour near roads is so important,” Cr Townley told NOTA.

“Adult pedestrians sometimes need reminders too.

“The Road Safety grants are not available to councils but I’m sure the City’s Road Safety Officer and Traffic Committee would love to support community action on road safety,” she said.
Local taxi and bus drivers say near misses are an almost daily occurrence.

“Regularly someone will walk out of the shadows, dressed in dark clothing,” Coffs taxi driver Mick Glasheen told NOTA.

An idea that appeals to Mick is the United Kingdom-wide ‘Be Bright Be Seen’ campaign, which is run by councils and community groups to promote cyclists, runners and pedestrians wearing bright and reflective clothing so they are more visible to road users in low light conditions.

“It’s so simple to ask children especially to wear something in fluoro, apply fluoro tape to their clothing or at least wear something brightly coloured on their way to and from school, but there’s no official group coordinating such a program to get it up and running in Australia,” said Mick.

Transport for NSW runs campaigns throughout the state in an attempt to decrease pedestrian fatalities and serious injuries.

Assistant Deputy Secretary of Safety, Environment and Regulation, Duncan Lucas told NOTA, “Education plays an important part in keeping road users safe, which is why Transport for NSW develops campaigns which engage the community and help change unsafe behaviour on the roads.

“Road safety advertising campaigns respond to the most recent crash data and the most pertinent issues causing road trauma in NSW.

“We undertake extensive and continuous research into these issues, target audiences, messaging and communications channels to ensure they remain impactful and resonate with the people of NSW.”

Pedestrian fatalities represent almost fourteen percent of the road death toll in 2023.

Grant applications are open now and will close at 4pm on Monday, 16 September 2024.

For more information on eligibility and how to apply, visit the Community Road Safety Grants website.

By Andrea FERRARI