Road safety services welcome new campaign

Supported by SA Police, the Country Fire Service, SA State Emergency Service and the Department for Infrastructure, road safety vehicles in key regional areas will be wrapped in road safety campaign materials.

Prior to Road Safety Week starting this Sunday, two CFS and two SA SES road crash rescue trucks have been wrapped-up with 'THINK! Road Safety,' imagery.

In the past five years, Yankalilla CFS has attended 121 RCR incidents, at an average of 24.2 incidents every year and 2.01 each month.

In the same time frame, Blackwood CFS had attended 136 RCR incidents, averaging 27.2 incidents every year and 2.26 a month.

Police and Emergency Services Minister Joe Szakacs said the new road safety messages would be difficult to miss.

"If you have travelled on country roads and somehow missed the plethora of billboards and proactive road safety imagery throughout regional SA, they will not miss the message when a CFS or SES truck comes past lights and sirens," he said.

Mr Szakacs said regional road accidents had been particularly difficult for responders to attend and reminded people to take the necessary safety precautions.

"They often attend incidents where someone involved is a friend, family member or colleague," he said.

"This messaging acts as an ever so timely reminder to check your speed, limit distractions, wear a seat belt, take appropriate rest stops and drive to conditions on country roads."

CFS deputy chair Georgie Cornish said CFS attendees had attended a the large number of incidents, with them often involving someone they knew.

"This road safety messaging is a powerful reminder to country drivers that our volunteers and these specialised vehicles too frequently attend the worst moment in someone's life," she said.

"Our 63 specialised Road Crash brigades attend on average four road crash accidents every week.

"As regional first responders, CFS volunteers are likely to attend crashes involving someone known to them, adding to the impact these incidents have on the live of our volunteers and their loved ones."

SA SES chief officer Chris Beattie said National Road Safety Week would coincide with National Volunteer Week and highlight the efforts of the SES volunteers.

"Using their skills and specialist equipment, our volunteers are the ones tasked with extracting victims from road crashes," he said.

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SES rescue volunteer Mike Harris said the new campaign materials would raise awareness of the importance of staying safe on the roads.

"While driving at dusk with the kangaroos that are out and about, people need to be aware that they're going to move suddenly," he said.

"If you're going the speed limit and someone wants to speed, let them go past you and if you're intimidated, indicate that you're pulling over and move to the side of the road.

"If everyone just takes a few seconds, there'll be less deaths on the road."

All road users had been urged by the SES to maintain their vehicle, check their seatbelts and child restraints are in good condition and fitted correctly, be patient when driving, obey the road laws, observe road signs and stay alert when they are behind the wheel.