Road users across the Upper Hunter are being urged to take meaningful action to improve safety on the roads as Fatality Free Friday takes place ttoday, Friday 29 May.
The campaign comes as Australia records its worst road toll in more than a decade, with 1,314 lives lost on the nation’s roads in the past year. Research also shows many drivers continue to take unnecessary risks behind the wheel.
More than seven out of ten drivers admit to breaking road rules, with speeding and mobile phone use among the most common behaviours, despite the well‑known dangers.
Here in the Hunter, we’ve already had 11 deaths on our roads so far in 2026, which is more than this time last year. It also continues the Hunter’s trend of being the most impacted region in New South Wales for road fatalities.
Russell White from the Australian Road Safety Foundation says everyone can make a difference. He says Fatality Free Friday is about encouraging people to pause, reflect and choose safer behaviours every time they get behind the wheel.
Motorists are being urged to slow down, avoid distractions and look out for others, with the message that preventing road trauma starts with individual responsibility.
