BRAKE Australia

What is the BRAKE Driver Awareness Program? To find out more or to schedule a free 10-minute information appointment, click on the following link: https://lnkd.in/eCz4KbbZ.

Planning Ahead: Your Holiday Travel Safety Guide With schools and workplaces winding down, many of us will hit the roads to celebrate with loved ones. Thoughtful planning isn't just about being prepared – it's about everyone's safety. Here are a few tips to help you plan better before your journey: 1. Prepare and pack bags early and load the car a day or two before departure. Talk to kids about the journey ahead. This reduces fatigue and stress before you even start. 2. Plan your route, including rest stops. For longer trips, consider breaking up the journey with an overnight stay. Remember: pushing through fatigue is deadly - it isn’t worth it. Make the trip memorable for kids and stay somewhere overnight. 3. Heading to Christmas, Boxing Day, or New Year's celebrations? Think ahead: • Will you drink? Be honest with yourself – plans can change once you arrive • Understand public transport options • Download ride-share apps and split costs with friends • Arrange a designated driver • Ask family members if they can help with pickup 1. If you are hosting friends, then make your event safety-friendly: • Offer sleeping space or camping options • Share local transport information with guests • Help encourage shared rides • Make it clear: no drink driving, no exceptions The holiday season is about loving and caring. Extend this to the roads and help ensure this festive season is memorable for all the right reasons.

Lane changes are 6x riskier during peak traffic—stay alert and switch lanes with care. Access our Quick Fact on Lane Changing on our Website. https://lnkd.in/gxuyVG66

Meet BRAKE Driver Awareness Chairperson Leanne Close APM. At BRAKE Australia, our mission to empower young people with the attitudes, behaviours, and decision-making skills needed for safer driving is stronger than ever, thanks to visionary leaders like our Chairperson, Leanne Close. Leading BRAKE since late 2023, Leanne Close brings 33 years of distinguished law enforcement experience, including serving as Deputy Commissioner of the Australian Federal Police (2014-2019). In these roles, she witnessed firsthand the devastating impact of road trauma on individuals, families, communities and first responders. Leanne brings invaluable strategic insight and governance to BRAKE. Her extensive governance experience includes key leadership roles as Deputy Chair of the ACT Gambling and Racing Commission and Chair positions with Australian Volunteers International and the ACT Emergency Services Agency, among other prestigious board appointments. Drawing on her decades of experience in public safety and governance, Leanne is passionate about BRAKE's mission. "I am thrilled to be able to support BRAKE Driver Awareness as chair of the Board," Leanne shares. "It is an organisation with a critical purpose - to reduce road deaths, injuries, and trauma, especially focused on young people and vulnerable communities, such as those in regional and remote localities. The educational portal and training modules provide contemporary and effective resources that emphasise critical thinking skills, improved judgement and long-term benefits for those who complete the program." Under Leanne's strategic direction over the past year, BRAKE has strengthened its foundations for substantial growth. Looking ahead, she envisions: "BRAKE being widely known across Australia as a critical and mandatory part of driver education programs and available in all schools across the country. This will ensure all drivers have access to contemporary education and awareness, which will keep them and other road users safe and reduce the trauma that car crashes cause across Australia. I would also hope that lawmakers consider the completion of the BRAKE Driver Awareness Program a mandatory requirement for any driver involved in a serious crash." With Leanne's leadership and strategic vision, BRAKE continues to work towards a future where every Australian driver has the mindset needed to make our roads safer for all.

Language in Road Safety: Why Words Matter Research consistently shows that language shapes our perceptions, behaviours, and cultural beliefs. In road safety education, the words we choose can impact how society views and responds to crashes. The phrase "road toll" carries implications that can normalise preventable tragedies. This commonly used term inadvertently suggests that fatal crashes are a cost of using our transport system, an unintentional framing that can lead to the acceptance of road crash injuries and deaths. Instead, BRAKE Driver Awareness trains our teachers and students to use the phrase "road trauma and deaths." This direct language acknowledges the human impact of crashes and reinforces that crashes are preventable. It places responsibility where it belongs: on road users and our systems. Think about this: We don't refer to aviation or rail crashes as "tolls." These crashes are treated as critical failures requiring thorough investigation and systemic change. Road safety deserves the same urgency and responsibility. Through the BRAKE Program, we're working to reshape these cultural narratives, particularly for young road users who face the highest risk on our roads and who will set the tone for future road safety norms. By combining evidence-based education with conscientious language choices, we’re creating a new generation of drivers who understand that road trauma and deaths are not an acceptable "toll" but rather a preventable outcome. Creating safer road users begins with how we think and talk about road safety. Through education and language choices, we can build a culture where every Australian takes responsibility for preventing crashes rather than accepting them as inevitable.

December marks a special time of celebrations, but it's also our nation's deadliest month on Australian roads, with an average of 106 lives lost in recent years. These aren't just statistics, they're families torn apart during what should be their happiest moments. The sobering reality is that many of these tragedies stem from decisions we make behind the wheel. With increased holiday traffic, December presents specific risks: • Speeding in holiday traffic • Fatigue from long-distance travel • Unfamiliar rural road conditions • Impaired driving during celebrations • Distractions during this busy period. But here's the empowering news: because these crashes often result from human choices, we have the power to prevent many of them. Throughout December, BRAKE will share vital tips and strategies to help you and your loved ones make safer choices on the roads. From planning your holiday travels to managing festive celebrations responsibly, small decisions can make a life-saving difference.

There is concerning research on rural and remote areas: the frequency of serious alcohol-related crashes increases with remoteness, while seatbelt compliance declines. These statistics paint a picture of the road safety challenges in our remote communities. What drives this correlation between remoteness and risky road behaviours? Could it be shaped by cultural attitudes toward road safety and way of life? Does geographic isolation influence risk perception? Does the prevalence of unsealed roads and different driving conditions play a role? Or perhaps the perception of less law enforcement? These critical issues are addressed in BRAKE's new Rural and Remote road safety program, available to all Queensland high schools in Term 1, 2025. From your knowledge and experiences, what factors do you think contribute most to these statistics? #RoadSafety #RuralQueensland #DrivingKnowledge4Life #BRAKE #RoadSafetyEducation

REMEMBER - SUPPORT - ACT Today (17 November 2024) is World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims. The objectives of World Day of Remembrance 2024 are to provide a platform for road traffic victims and their families to: ▶️ Remember all people killed and seriously injured on the roads; ▶️ Acknowledge the crucial work of the emergency services; ▶️ Draw attention to the generally trivial legal response to culpable road deaths and injuries and advocate for an appropriately serious response; ▶️ Advocate for better support for road traffic victims and victim families; ▶️ Promote evidence-based actions to prevent and eventually stop further road traffic deaths and injuries Every year, millions more road victims die. It is a pandemic, affecting primarily our vulnerable and our young, which in addition to the trauma of injury and bereavement has also a devastating economic impact for countries, communities and families. Therefore, during the Decade of Action 2021-2030 the World Day has an important role of helping to achieve the 50% road casualty reduction target. #WDoR WDoR Foundation #RoadSafety #VisionZero Australasian College of Road Safety

Addressing the Rising PMD Lives Lost in Queensland: Introducing BRAKE’s New PMD Educational Module The use of Personal Mobility Devices (PMDs) like scooters has surged but so have the risks. In Queensland alone, 8 PMD riders have tragically lost their lives in 2024, with many more sustaining critical injuries. A tragic rise from the three lives lost in 2023. These crashes are not just statistics; they are wake-up calls for immediate action. In response, BRAKE Driver Awareness, with the support of the Queensland Government’s Community Road Safety Grants Scheme, has developed a groundbreaking PMD educational module for Year 10 and 11 students. This program is one of the first of its kind, addressing the knowledge gap surrounding PMD usage. PMDs are here to stay, but attitudes toward them need to change. Far too often, they’re viewed as toys rather than serious modes of transport. Our new PMD module, launching in Term 1 of 2025, tackles this misconception, teaching students about: • Safe PMD operation • Sharing the path with other road users • Interacting with larger vehicles • Understanding laws and responsibilities • The dangers of illegal modifications • And much more. The BRAKE PMD program is designed to equip young PMD users with the knowledge and skills they need to stay safe. Click the link to find out more about the program: https://zurl.co/dplU . Interested in implementing this vital PMD safety program to your school next year? Contact us today to find out how. #RoadSafety #PMDSafety #EScooter #Queensland #Education #EScooterSafety #DrivingKnowledge4Life

Why language matters in road safety: It's a crash, not an accident. As road safety educators, we believe in the power of precise language to shape behaviour and attitudes. Research consistently shows that referring to road incidents as "accidents" inadvertently diminishes the role of human responsibility in these events. Here's why terminology matters: • A crash is the result of choices and actions • An "accident" implies inevitability and lack of control • Coroners never classify road deaths as "accidents" • BRAKE and other leading road safety organisations exclusively use "crash" terminology We instil this understanding in our students from day one. Every road user makes conscious decisions that impact their safety and the safety of others. By acknowledging these incidents as crashes, we reinforce that road safety is about: ✓ Personal responsibility ✓ Accountable decision-making ✓ Active risk management ✓ Conscious choice-making The next time you hear someone say "car accident," remember: crashes don't just happen. They're the result of human choices. #RoadSafety #DriverEducation #BRAKE #RoadSafetyAwareness #DrivingInstructor #SafeDriving #DrivingKnowledge4Life