ONE hundred pairs of empty shoes laid out on astro turf behind a picket fence offered a stark reminder of 100 road deaths on Logan roads since 2010.
The display was part of an event held at Grand Plaza Shopping Centre, Browns Plains, to mark Fatality Free Friday.
Shoppers dropped dropped in to pen a pledge designed to keep road safety front of mind and do their best to keep the road toll at zero for the rest of the day.
They included Melissa Ennis, of Crestmead, and daughter Layla, 5.
“We take road safety very seriously at our house,” Melissa said.
“Layla would would never cross the street unless she was firmly clutching an adult’s hand.”
Beau, 17 months, of Crestmead lit up when he met police from Browns Plains police station and got up close to a police car.
“He’s a little young to get it yet, but he’s left his mark on the inflatable right over there,” his mum Amanda said.
The Browns Plains event was organised by SafeRoads4Logan, a Logan City Council-led program that works in partnership with police, the Transport and Main Roads department and road users to reduce road trauma.
Logan city roads and water committee chair councillor Phil Pidgeon said the location was chosen to reflect the fact that the highest concentration of fatal traffic accidents in the city happen on nearby Mount Lindesay Highway corridor to Jimboomba.
There have been nine road deaths on Logan roads so far this year
Australian Transport Safety Bureau data shows the national road toll to be an average of 5.3 deaths each day.
“That’s five families every day whose lives are changed forever by the simple act of driving a car – something many of us do day in, day out,” Cr Pidgeon said.
“We might think that driving is just about pushing pedals and changing gears, but there’s also a very important mental component.
“Many accidents can be alleviated by drivers being prepared for the unexpected all the time.
“By drivers actively concentrating on road safety for just one day a year, we want them to think about it in the days after and then change their outlook completely.
“What we should remember is that it’s everyone’s responsibility to own road safety; it’s not just up to the government or police or someone else.”
Browns Plains acting senior constable Deborah Roelandts said her job was to talk to adults and children alike about road safety.
“I’m hear to talk about the Fatal Five and keep them at the forefront of everybody’s minds,” she said.
