The Giant Koala at Dadswells Bridge will be illuminated until Sunday for the shine a light campaign.
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The illumination of the koala aims to raise awareness of the impact of road trauma and to stop deaths and injuries on roads, Road Trauma Support Services regional coordinator for the Grampians Daniel Bell said.
The aim is also to create discussion about the “shared responsibility for road safety on rural roads,” Mr Bell said.
The campaign started from Road Trauma Support Services.
They provide counselling and support to people affected by road trauma and address the attitudes and behaviours of road users through education.
In 2017 lives lost on rural roads increased by 14%.
In comparison lives lost on city roads decreased by 30%.
Mr Bell said “this alarming statistic shows the need for community discussion and action to actively change driving behaviours and reduce the trauma experienced in rural communities because of lives lost and serious injuries on our road”.
"We saw so many illuminated icons in yellow last year, and it reminded us of our beautiful dad who died in a car crash,” someone told Road Trauma Support Services.
“If just one person makes a change in their driving behaviour because of Shine a Light on Road Safety, and it saves lives on our roads, then we think our participation in the campaign has been worthwhile."
Part of the campaign also includes national ‘turn your headlights on day’, which is held today.
The 2018 shine a light campaign is part of national road safety week.
Road Tramua Support Services Victoria chief executive officer Cameron Sinclair said “we must also come together in support of the people in our midst who live with the reality of road trauma, be they bereaved family members and friends, the injured, drivers involved in road crashes, emergency service workers and witnesses.
“The road toll reaches far beyond the number of deaths and injuries counted each year.”
The shine a light on road safety campaign is supported by the Victorian Government, the TAC, VicRoads and Victoria Police.
McDonalds has also partnered with the campaign to help raise money for the campaign.
