RAC is calling on innovators to take part in a Community Road Safety Challenge event in Geraldton this weekend.
The RAC Community Challenge, which will take place on 16 and 17 November at Geraldton Multipurpose Centre, will focus on the issue of driver fatigue as a cause of road trauma, asking participants to help create solutions to help save lives and prevent serious injuries on our roads.
RAC Communications Manager Rhys Heron said last year, 15 people died in fatigue related crashes on WA roads.
“Over the last five years, more than 20 per cent of fatalities in WA have been fatigue related, with most of these occurring in regional areas,” Mr Heron said.
“Driving tired slows down your reaction time and decreases your alertness, with the reaction time of a driver who has been awake for 17 to 19 hours similar to a driver with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.05.”
Road Safety Challenge participants will work in teams alongside industry mentors to create and test concepts which will help put an end to driver fatigue.
Final ideas will be presented to a panel of judges, with the judge’s choice taking home a main prize of $2,000, and the community choice winning a $500 RAC Parks & Resorts voucher.
“This RAC Community Challenge is an important opportunity for the community to come together to learn about and tackle the silent killer that is fatigue,” Mr Heron said.
For more information and to secure your place at RAC’s Community Challenge, visit the RAC website.
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Media Contact: Mikayla Wearne - 0401 703 719 or media@rac.com.au
