ROADwhyz 10th Anniversary

By MATT JOHNSTON

Local road safety initiative ROADwhyz is celebrating its 10^th anniversary.

Co-creator Michelle Davis is one of the driving forces behind ROADwhyz, and is proud of having reached approximately 40,000 students. “We target teenagers in year 11 and 12, and other at-risk [drivers] – those between the ages of 18 and 25.”

The approach behind ROADwhyz is to make younger drivers think about the consequences of their choices behind the wheel. “We don’t teach them how to drive… we don’t tell them what they should do or how they should do it.

“We just simply say ‘choice and consequence- it’s in your hands. All you have to do is follow the road rules.”

Michelle’s faced her own struggles with the consequences of traffic accidents, having lost her two teenaged sons in 2005. It’s inspired another element of ROADwhyz, where they talk about the consequences for everyone who isn’t in the car when there’s a crash.

“I, as a mother, I try to get them to understand how important their lives are and how much their mother will miss them if they don’t come home.”

ROADwhyz’s message has been impacting on the community, with Michelle being recognised by students four years after workshops. A frequent comment is that the workshops are tough, but they’re important.

Other speakers at the workshops include emergency responders such as paramedics and police officers. While students are often lectured about how to drive on the roads, these first-hand accounts drive home the consequences of drivers’ choices.

Michelle says the workshops are “hard hitting, it’s factual, it’s real. Everybody should watch it.”

Their 10^th anniversary is a chance for ROADwhyz to celebrate the significant mile-stone, and reflect on their hopes to remove the over-representation of younger drivers in crash statistics.

ROADwhyz Co-creator Michelle Davis, roadwhyz.com

Road Safety Grants

BY MICHAEL COOK and JESSICA ROUSE

The Hunter's roads could soon receive a welcome boost with applications opening shortly for the third round of the NSW Government's Community Road Safety Grants program.

Applications for this latest round of grants open on the 13th of June with community groups invited to submit their road safety projects by July 23.

Local organisations can apply for minor project funding up to $5,000 or more substantial projects of up to $30,000 with a total of $1.6 million available.

Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter Scot MacDonald is urging anyone who is interested to apply because who knows the roads better than those who use them on a daily basis.

"If you're on there everyday going to work and to school going to the shops, whatever you're doing, you're the person that sees where the shortfalls are and where we could do with a little bit of extra funding around that road."

"We're a pretty extensive road network so we're all busy catching up in that respect - there's a lot more traffic on the road, RMS are doing a good job of planning for the future but of course there's little projects that the community can identify and that's really what I'm looking for the community to think about," said Scot MacDonald.

Motorists advised to be safe in Wild Weather

BY SARAH BARONOWSKI

With four deaths on Hunter roads in the last 48 hours, motorists are being urged to take greater care when driving especially in the wet weather.

Forecasts for extreme wind and rain this weekend are a concern for Chief Inspector, Bruce McGreggor who says people need to be vigilant and stay safe on the roads.

"I'd just like people to drive to the conditions," he said.

"At the moment with the rain that's falling and the gloomy skies, certainly have your headlines on, reduce your speed to what you're comfortable with where you can stop quickly. Be courteous to other road users. Don't take unnecessary risks."

He says recent accidents on the road are very concerning.

"We have these unfortunate accidents that have been occurring where people are driving onto the wrong side of the road and colliding head on with other vehicles," he said.

"It appears that inattention is a factor there and people aren't driving with due space between vehicles to slow when required."

According to the Chief Inspector, the Hunter is leading the state in road fatalities for 2017.

"At the moment in northern region, we've had 24 deaths on the roads so far this year and that's far too many. We want to reduce it and I'm asking for assistance from the motoring public."

Motorists are advised to exercise more caution on the roads. Image: [https://madovermarketing.com/2016/07/31/chevrolet-is-creating-awareness-around-road-safety-in-the-most-innovative-way-ever-2/]

New Milestone for Cary Street Upgrades

BY TANYA DU PREEZ

Traffic lights were switched on last night at the intersection of Cary Street, Donnelly Avenue and James Street.

This marks a new milestone for the road's upgrades, which are expected to improve safety and congestion within peak traffic times.

Lake Macquarie MP Greg Piper says he is very pleased with the progress of the project.

"It's a major step forward and is going to make this stretch of Cary Street much safer than it was before," he says.

Additional upgrade work will continue, but the project is expected to be completed before the end of September.