Media release – Road Safety Advisory Council’s (RSAC), 4 October 2022
Let’s have each other’s backs on the road
A new cycling safety campaign will start tomorrow to improve safety for cyclists by encouraging respect and understanding between all road users.
Supported by the Motor Accidents Insurance Board and Tasmanian Bicycle Council, the Road Safety Advisory Council’s (RSAC) new campaign aims to ‘humanise’ cyclists and remind other road users of cyclists’ vulnerability.
RSAC Chair, Scott Tilyard said that cyclists often report not feeling safe on our roads and that’s largely due to the lack of respect and understanding from other road users.
“One in four serious casualties in our towns and cities are vulnerable road users, many of those are cyclists,” Mr Tilyard said.
“Cyclists are vulnerable road users because they have little or no protection in the event of a crash with a motor vehicle.
“When it comes to shared road use between cyclists and motorists, respect for each other’s safety is a two-way street.
“We’re all responsible for our own actions on the roads, regardless of the mode of transport we choose.
“It’s imperative that as road users we remind ourselves that we are all human,” he said
The campaign’s message ‘let’s make sure we have each other’s backs. Because we all have someone to get back to’ helps communicate the notion that we all have to look out for one another on the roads because we all have families and loved ones expecting us to get home safely.
The cycling safety campaign will hit Tasmanian TV screens and digital media this week.
This campaign is an initiative to encourage safer road use and promote safe behaviours under the current Towards Zero Action Plan 2020-2024.
Media release – Bicycle Network, 4 October 2022
Sharing the road a message worth promoting
The government’s new road safety campaign promoting care for people riding bicycles is a welcome step in promoting the message of sharing our roads, Bicycle Network spokesperson Alison Hetherington said today.
“We’re all just Tasmanians trying to get from A to B, it shouldn’t matter what method we use to get there,” Ms Hetherington said.
“Whether it’s driving a car, riding a bicycle, catching a bus or walking we all want to get home safely to the people we love.
“This Road Safety Advisory Council campaign reinforces the message that you are not passing a ‘cyclist’ on the road, you’re passing a person who is a member of your community.
“The person riding that bicycle might be your doctor, your child’s teacher, your neighbour or your best friend’s cousin.
“With close to half of Tasmanians riding a bike at least once a year, most of us ride or know someone who does.
“Most Tasmanians drive responsibly, but this campaign just reinforces the message to be careful around people riding because we are so vulnerable on the road.
“Tasmanians responded well to the Distance makes a Difference campaign and we hope they’ll also embrace the sentiment of “we’ve all got someone to get back to,” Ms Hetherington said.
