A powerful display featuring 820 pairs of shoes – each representing a life lost on Australia’s rural roads in 2024 – formed the centerpiece for the launch of this year’s Rural Road Safety Month.
Held at Grafton’s Market Square in New South Wales the launch also featured displays by the SES, NSW Police, NSW Fire Service and Rural Fire Service.
Transport for NSW Senior Manager Community and Place Partner for North Coast Brad Crispin said the road safety message was as important as ever.
“The theme of Rural Road Safety Month 2025 is Step Up for Road Safety,” Mr. Crispin said.
“We want to encourage all members of the community to step up and do their bit for road safety, both through their behavior on the roads but also by talking to their friends and family and sharing road safety messages and urging them to step up too.
“While country residents make up about one third of the state’s population, more than two-thirds of the lives lost on NSW roads happen on regional roads.
“The disproportionate death rate is in spite of improvements in vehicle safety technology, road upgrades and consistent messaging to slow down, take regular breaks and drive to the conditions.”
Rural Road Safety Month is an Australian Road Safety Foundation initiative and supported by Transport for NSW.
