Formula One Grand Prix teams are partnering with their international governing body, the FIA, in a campaign targeting road safety.
Called ‘Make Roads Safe’, the campaign aims to save five million lives over the next decade.
Keen observers and television viewers may have noticed the ‘Make Roads Safe’ logos which were prominent on many of the F1 cars at the Australian Grand Prix. Given the massive dollars normally charged by the teams for advertising space on the cars, this is a substantial investment.
Sadly, following the Lewis Hamilton late-night ‘donut’ and subsequent comments by Australia’s Mark Webber, this global road safety initiative was overlooked by the sensationalist general media and headline-seeking bureaucrats. Webber said Governments should not just keep increasing fines, speed cameras and other ‘Big Brother’ activities to make roads safer - he called for initiatives to teach drivers to understand and take responsibility for their actions behind the wheel.
Interestingly, Webber’s comments were supported by more than 80 per cent of the on-line respondents to Melbourne’s Herald-Sun newspaper.
Renault Australia has backed the efforts of its French-based Formula One team and is using the ‘Make Roads Safe’ branding locally.
