The IM-PACT initiative between the Queensland Police Service and University of Queensland has been recognised at the Australian Road Safety Awards , bagging both the Community Programs and the Founders Awards.
The Awards, held at Parliament House in Canberra and hosted by the Australian Road Safety Foundation, acknowledged the achievements and excellence by individuals and organisations committed to improving road safety.
The IM-PACT program offers a resource efficient problem-solving model founded on three principles: (I) Identification of the problem; (M)essage development; and message delivery (PACT).
PACT prompts police to explain the (P) Purpose of an engagement, (A) Acknowledge good habits, convey a (C) Crime message and (T) Thank people for their involvement. With minimal impact on resources, PACT-related Random Breath Testing (RBT) affords opportunity to share responsibility for road safety and crime prevention by both police and the community.
The YOU CHOOSE Road Safety campaign founded by Melissa and Peter McGuinness won the School Programs Award. The youth led campaign was founded by the couple after their son Jordan was killed in a speeding accident. Based on the concepts of love, family and empowerment of choice, the campaign aims to change the driving culture and prevent youth road trauma.
The Queensland Police Service were also awarded the State Government Initiatives Award for their Seniors Road trip to Road Safety Project. The project aims to educate senior drivers on safe driving, vehicle safety, mobility scooters as well as road rules. Lessons during the program included driver simulators and a vehicle safety kit for participants.
Assistant Minister for Road Safety and Freight Transport, Scott Buchholz said the awards highlighted the great contributions that have been made by key stakeholders to increase the safety of the nation’s roads.
“These awards place a much-deserved spotlight on the hard work and commitment of the many people and organisations, who day in and day out work hard to drive down the road death toll and reduce road trauma,” Bucholz said.
“These Awards support the work being done by community, business and Government to reduce the number of deaths and trauma on our roads and drive towards zero.”
Other award winners included Driving Well Occupational Therapy for bringing the Drive Focus app to Australia, the City of Rockingham for the City of Rockingham Strategic Road Safety Action Plan and the Queensland Traffic Offenders Program.
Related stories:
- Sensors and safety on the road
- Kennedy Highway’s $37.5 million safety upgrades on track
- Safety upgrades part of NSW works package