Take Fatality Free Friday pledge to make every day safer on our roads
Published on 28 May 2026
Toowoomba Regional Council (TRC) today (Thursday, May 28, 2026) reaffirmed its commitment to the Australian Road Safety Foundation’s (ARSF) Fatality Free Friday campaign reminding residents to make safer choices whenever they drive or use the Region’s roads.
Fatality Free Friday (Friday, May 29, 2026) is an ARSF community effort targeted to achieve a fatality free Friday for one day across the country.
ARSF Chair and Founder Russell White said initiatives such as Fatality Free Friday help rewrite the way road users approach risk.
“Our research shows that despite seven in 10 drivers breaking road rules, almost the same amount (72%) believes that they’re making safe choices on the road, and it’s that gap between belief and behaviour where lives are lost,” Mr White said.
"Road deaths are preventable if people make safer choices and this is the foundation for meaningful change.
“We welcome the continued efforts of Toowoomba Regional Council to help save local lives," he said.
TRC Mayor Cr Geoff McDonald said Council was pleased to renew its pledge and determined to raise road safety awareness and work toward saving lives on our roads.
“Fatality Free Friday sharpens our focus on collective and individual responsibilities for all road users – including pedestrians, cyclists, passengers, motorcyclists and motorists – so we’re very proud to be supporting this initiative,” Mayor McDonald said.
“The cost of fatal crashes and other accidents equates to tens of millions of dollars across the Darling Downs Police District alone annually when calculating community costs, let alone the family anguish and emotional trauma that is caused in our community through each death or serious injury.”
TRC Construction and Maintenance (Infrastructure Services) portfolio spokesperson Cr Carol Taylor said Council and its road safety partners were asking all road users to give their full attention to the road and surrounding conditions on every journey.
“There is no room for complacency. Please remember to avoid taking risks behind the wheel as you not only endanger your own life, but the lives of your passengers, other motorists and road users around you,” Cr Taylor said.
“Always focus on the fatal five: avoid driver distractions, avoid speeding, drink and drug driving, wear a seat belt and never drive when tired.
“Council is committed to improving road safety through better engineering on our road projects and advocating for road safety education and enforcement, in addition to investigating new technologies to improve road management and safety.
“Council applies for available road funding grants, including allocations under the federally funded Black Spot program, which delivers projects that reduce the incidence and severity of road traffic crashes.
“This includes Black Spot projects that are due to be completed this calendar year:
• West Street, Anzac Avenue and Russell Street roundabout;
• Ball and Gipps Street roundabout; and
• Greenwattle Street guard rail (from Hogg Street to Hermitage Road).
“We also work collaboratively with the Department of Transport and Main Roads and the Police and thank all emergency services agencies for the work they perform around the clock to keep our community safe.”
Background: The Australian Road Safety Foundation (ARSF) is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to improving road safety outcomes and reducing the rates of death and the mental and physical injuries that result from road crashes.
The campaign is more than a single day. While the target is to have a fatality free Friday, ultimately it aims for longer term community change in driver behaviour.
For more information about Fatality Free Friday, please visit: https://arsf.com.au/