The Road Safety Commission is supporting regional communities to explore using art to raise awareness about road safety.
Recently a community mural designed by WA artist Melski McVee was created in the wheatbelt town of Kalannie with RSC Community Grant funding. The theme “Stop and Rest” reminds locals and visitors to not drive tired.
Kalannie Community Resource Centre representative Jodie Lyndon-James told ABC Wheatbelt that agricultural workers were particularly vulnerable to fatigue during busy periods such as harvest time, pushing through to meet deadlines and spending many hours behind the wheel.
Jodie hoped that by involving the community in painting the mural, people would be more likely to reflect and act on its road safety message: Plan ahead and take breaks to avoid the risks associated with driver fatigue.
As part of another RSC Community Grant, the Shire of Pingelly has sought concepts from artists to create a trail of roadside installations to combat fatigue.
Twenty metal artworks will be placed every 15-20 kilometres along the route from Perth to Pingelly via Wandering, as part of the The Safe Road Home project.
The project aims to serve as a reminder to check fatigue levels and take a break at regular intervals.
Each sculpture will tell a story related to Pingelly or Wandering. Capturing the essence of its people, places, and past.
Road Safety Commissioner Adrian Warner says he is heartened to see rural towns like Kalannie and Pingelly successfully exploring local solutions for local road safety problems.
“Changing behaviour on our roads requires the backing of the whole community. I encourage all regional communities to discover the range of community grants available to make their streets safer.”
