Hats Off For Road Safety campaign launches in Grafton

A new road safety campaign highlighting the alarming volume of lives lost on our regional roads has been launched in the Clarence Valley – and Australia’s biggest country music star is backing it.

Clarence Valley residents are being encouraged to donate one of their old hats to symbolise each person that has lost a life on the region’s roads.

Organised by Transport for NSW and supported by Clarence Valley Council and Grafton Shoppingworld, the Hats Off To Road Safety campaign aims to illustrate the rising number of deaths on NSW roads through a display of donated hats.

The campaign has generated some serious steam, with country music star Troy Cassar-Daley backing it all the way.

The hats will be on display at Grafton Shoppingworld throughout September, which coincides with Rural Road Safety Month.

NSW Road Trauma Support Group member, Tania Brown, and Transport for NSW Senior Manager Community and Place Partner, Brad Crispin, with some of the hats collected as part of a road safety campaign.

346 people died on NSW roads in 2023 and the aim was to collect the same number of hats or other pieces of headwear for the display.

Transport for NSW Senior Manager of Community and Place, Brad Crispin, said a visual display of the number of people who lost their lives would serve as a powerful reminder to stay safe on our roads.

“Every one of those 346 people left behind grieving family and friends.”

He said despite persistent road safety messaging, improved car safety and road conditions regional NSW continues to have high road trauma call-outs.

“While country residents make up about 33 per cent of NSW’s population, deaths on rural and regional roads made up more than 70 per cent of the state’s road toll in 2023,” Mr Crispin said.

“Speed, fatigue and drink and drug driving remain the three most significant behavioural factors in fatal and serious injury crashes on NSW roads.”

Grafton mum Tania Brown heard a knock on her front door from police at 5.30am on a Sunday morning last year.

“I peaked out through the blinds and there was a police car,” she said.

“They came in and told me my two children had died in a car crash.

“My world, since that day has been completely shattered.”

Ms Brown said the things we see on the news are not just numbers.

“They are my children and all of those numbers are someone’s children, mother, father, or best friend.”

She said her family was “broken” with two of her own now gone, unable to be at regular family and community events.

“My neighbours, my children’s best friends, my children’s whole years at school … the whole of the Grafton community has felt this so much it’s not just only about me,” Ms Brown said.

She said it has been “absolutely devastating” and she wants people to think about what they are doing on our roads with the decisions they are making.

“I want them to realise the absolute trauma that can come from bad decisions or not being careful enough.”

NSW Road Trauma Support Group member, Tania Brown, with some of the hats collected as part of a road safety campaign. Ms Brown lost her two children, aged 14 and 11, to road trauma in 2023.

Mr Crispin has called on individuals, business, community, and sporting organisations to get on board.

“We’ll only display 346 pieces of headwear, but it doesn’t matter how many come in as all hats will be donated to charity and then be redistributed back to those who need them.

“Talking about road safety and getting people to take some action, even if it’s just talking or donating a hat, will help raise community awareness and we hope to reduce the number of deaths on our roads.”

Country singer-songwriter Troy Cassar-Daley, has thrown his support behind the Hats Off campaign. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen/The Australian

Mr Cassar-Daley has thrown his support behind the campaign.

“Country people are a tight knit bunch – and we know when one of our own is hurt, we all hurt,” he said.

“Deaths and serious injuries on country roads are a lot higher than in the city and I’m pleased to see this campaign come together to help raise awareness about road safety.

“I spend so much of my time on country roads with my touring schedule and I’m encouraging everyone to take part in this campaign. Bring down a hat in remembrance of those who have lost their lives.

“Think about what you can do to help keep yourself and others safe on the roads and commit to take care every time you sit in a car to get to where you have to be safely.”

Now in its seventh year, Rural Road Safety Month is an initiative of the Australian Road Safety Foundation and is supported by Transport for NSW.

Please donate a hat or headgear at Grafton Shoppingworld, Transport for NSW at 76 Victoria Street, Grafton, or Grafton Clarence Valley Council office on Prince Street, Grafton, before Saturday, August 17.

A free community road safety awareness barbecue will be on at 12pm in Market Square Grafton, on Wednesday September 11.

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