Blessing of the Roads

The WA Local Government Association’s RoadWise Program is once again assisting Local Governments to promote road safety in the lead up to the Easter long weekend (6-9 April 2012). Local Governments can participate by formally blessing the roads as part of an official ceremony.

Aims

The Blessing of the Roads campaign aims:

To remind road users that we have a shared responsibility when travelling on our roads.
To raise community awareness of driving safely over the Easter long weekend.
To emphasise the police enforcement activities in local areas.
To use high profile local people to support community awareness and police enforcement activities.

Objectives

To create a positive road safety culture in local communities and engage local leaders to help demonstrate that road trauma is not acceptable.

The Blessing of the Roads campaign is a community project intended to:

Create awareness for all road users of the need to exercise courtesy, care and common sense when travelling on our roads at all times, including over the busy Easter weekend.
Remember the family and friends of those who have lost their lives in road crashes and provides an opportunity for them to encourage others to be more road safety aware.
Recognise the dedication and efforts of those, both full time and volunteers, who work towards reducing road trauma.

How can your Local Government get involved?

Organise a small service/event at the Council offices or a local park to formally bless the roads in your community in the week leading up to Easter. Invite local religious leaders (of all denominations) to deliver a blessing and/or prayer as part of the service.
Incorporate the Blessing of the Roads message into existing community or Council events which may take place in the lead up to or over the Easter long weekend.
Incorporate Blessing of the Roads into a Council meeting.
Incorporate Blessing of the Roads into existing Driver Reviver stations in your region.
Present Human Spirit Awards as part of any community celebrations (visit www.roadwise.asn.au/news for more information).

Promoting your campaign activities
Invite local media to attend community events or provide local photo opportunities with the Mayor/Shire President, local religious leaders, police, emergency services or local members of parliament beside local roads. Issue a media release to promote the Blessing of the Roads campaign at the local level. Provide the Blessing of the Roads information and blessings to local religious leaders for adaptation or inclusion in services in the lead up to Easter. Incorporate the Blessing of the Roads information into any local newsletters or regular newspaper columns written by Mayors /Shire Presidents. Incorporate the Blessing of the Roads information into staff newsletters to encourage Council staff to take care on the roads over the Easter break. Include Blessing of the Roads information on the Council’s website. Use the template promotional poster to promote your event.
	City of Wanneroo, Blessing of the Roads ceremony 2011
What resources are available?
The RoadWise Program prepares the Blessing of the Roads 2012 - Local Government Information Kit to assist Councils who would like to participate in the Blessing of the Roads campaign. The Information Kit includes templates to assist in the planning Blessing of the Roads activities/events Templates available include (Word version): Media release template Newsletter template Speech notes Blessing and prayer Event running sheet Event poster
	Shire of Bridgetown-Greenbushes