Blessing of the Roads is an initiative of the WA Local Government Association’s (WALGA) RoadWise Program which aims to raise community awareness about driving safely over the Easter long weekend.
WALGA President Cr Bill Mitchell said Blessing of the Roads ceremonies were just one of the ways in which Local Governments were implementing the Safe System approach to road safety.
“Safe Road Use represents one component of the Safe System approach to road safety and initiatives such as Blessing of the Roads provide a good opportunity for Local Governments to promote the importance of driver behaviour in their communities,” Cr Mitchell said.
“Blessing of the Roads services bring together Local Government Elected Members and staff, local religious leaders, emergency service personnel, schools, members of the community and other road safety partners to bless local roads, raise community awareness and support police enforcement activities in the lead up to Easter.
“That said, we can only work with other members of the Road Safety Council and local road safety partners to educate and inform drivers about the importance of not drinking and driving, speeding, drink driving, driving tired or wearing a seatbelt.
“The rest is up to those drivers who hear these messages almost daily and continue to risk their own lives and the lives of other road users.”
Local Blessing of the Roads events are taking place in the South West, Wheatbelt South, Great Southern, Kimberley and metropolitan regions*.
Cr Mitchell encouraged drivers to take advantage of Driver Reviver stations run by volunteers across the State to reduce the incidence of fatigue and fatigue related trauma on the roads in Western Australia.  The stations offer a free cup of tea, coffee, a biscuit and most importantly, a chance to revive so drivers reach their destination safely.
“During the 2007 Easter break, volunteers spent in excess of 280 hours working at Driver Reviver stations,” Cr Mitchell said.
“These road safety champions helped approximately 4000 people to beat fatigue on WA roads." 
Plan ahead this Easter – leave enough time to get to your destination, change drivers or stop and revive at one of the many coffee stops or Driver Reviver locations run by volunteers throughout WA.  Driver reviver locations can be accessed by visiting www.roadwise.asn.au/diary/diary.

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Note:

Individual Local Governments organise Blessing of the Roads events in their communities. Details of known Blessing of the Roads events include:
• City of Mandurah, Saturday, 15 March, 2.00-4.00pm, Hall Park, Mandurah.
• Shire of Plantagenet, Tuesday, 18 March, 2.30pm, Margery Bourke Gardens (Shire Administration building) Lowood Roads, Mt Barker.
• Shire of Waroona, Tuesday, 18 March, 10.30am, Waroona Memorial Hall Ampitheatre, Waroona.
• Shire of Bridgetown-Greenbushes, Wednesday, 19 March, 10.00am, Memorial Park, Bridgetown.
• Shire of Derby-West Kimberley, Wednesday, 19 March, Derby.
• City of Wanneroo, Thursday, 20 March, 10.00am, Cnr Joondalup Driver and Wanneroo Road, Tapping.