By LARISSA KUZEFF
MOTORCYCLISTS are encouraged to ‘travel happy’ as part of a new awareness campaign to address road rage.
The new VicRoads awareness campaign Travel Happy – Share the Road is focused on the effects that mood and driving behaviour can have on road safety.
VicRoads’ director of Vehicle and Road Use Policy James Holgate said the campaign, which would feature a series of events, would help road users to highlight behaviour change.
“Unhappy road users are more likely to be aggressive and lack compassion for others. This can lead to frustration and anger which can lead to risky behaviour,” he said.
In a recent survey of 1000 road users conducted by VicRoads, 84 per cent of motorcyclists felt the behaviour of others on the road impacted their mood.
Mr Holgate said drivers and motorcyclists alike needed to be aware of each other’s safety when sharing the road.
“Other road users should be mindful of motorcyclists. Just because you don’t see a motorcyclist doesn’t mean one isn’t nearby, so use your indicators when changing lanes,” he said.
“A quick head check to ensure a motorcyclist isn’t in your blind spot will ensure everyone has a safer journey.”
The survey results indicated that motorcyclists would be happier on the road if other users would keep an eye out for them when changing lanes and intersections.
But Mr Holgate said motorcyclists, too, had responsibility to share the space which would also help them improve their own safety.
“Motorcyclists can make other road users happier by indicating before changing lanes and maintaining a safe space between themselves and other road users – they can improve their own safety by being alert, scanning ahead and using mirrors to avoid the unexpected,” he said.
VicRoads’ will join with a number of road safety partners throughout the campaign to help change the culture of negative behaviour that exists on our roads.
Visit www.travelhappy.vic.gov.au for more information about road safety.
