The City of Ryde's Road and Community Safety Officer develops and implements educational campaigns that address road safety at a local level, by working in partnership with a number of stakeholders including:
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New South Wales Police (Gladesville and Eastwood Local Area Command)
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NSW Health (Northern Sydney Central Coast Area Health Service)
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Local Hotels, Clubs and Pubs
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Local Primary and Secondary Schools
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Local community services and organisations
The City of Ryde's Road and Community Safety Objectives
The City Of Ryde’s Road Safety programs include:
Go Active 2 School
The Go Active 2 School program is being developed in collaboration with NSCCAHS, namely Ryde Health Promotion. We are gradually implementing the Go Active 2 School project into Holy Spirit School in North Ryde.
The project aims to:
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increase the number of children walking to and/or from school
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develop resources that will assist children /parents to plan their walking journey to school and
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increase awareness and improve road and community safety around the schools.
The project strategies are:
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The project will focus on developing, printing and distribution of Travel Access Guides (TAGs) to all school students and their families. Newly enrolled students and their families will receive a TAG at orientation. In order to develop the TAGs a “walkability” audit is to be conducted of local streets surrounding the school to develop walking routes. This activity could involve staff from Ryde Council; Ryde Health Promotion; Teachers/Principals at the targeted schools; and, interested parents and students.
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A 29 question travel to school survey was developed. 420 surveys were distributed to Holy Spirit School; of the 420 surveys distributed we received 237 completed surveys were received from the families of Holy Spirit which equates to 56% of respondents. View the
results of the survey (PDF 108KB).
This project is to be launched in 2009.
Pedestrian Safety
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Cross the road at pedestrian (zebra) crossings or traffic lights if one is available.
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At traffic lights cross the road only when the pedestrian signal is green.
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If you are unable to make the whole distance, use a pedestrian refuge if available and wait for the next phase. You may complete your crossing, but do not start crossing, on the flashing red ‘Don’t Walk’ signal.
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Before crossing the road, think about whether an approaching driver can see you.
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Never assume that an approaching vehicle will stop for you.
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Avoid crossing between parked cars or in front of buses.
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If no footpath is available, walk facing oncoming traffic and keep as far to the right or left side as possible.
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Wear bright coloured clothing at night or in reduced visibility conditions.
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Children up to eight years old should hold an adult's hand on the footpath, in the car park or when crossing the road. Children up to ten years old should be actively supervised in the traffic environment and should hold an adult's hand when crossing the road.
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Don’t be distracted by things like phones or music players such as ipods.
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At dusk and night cross the road in well-lit areas and wear light coloured clothing or carry something reflective
The City of Ryde worked with Ku-ring-gai, North Sydney and Willoughby Council’s on the Pedestrian Safety project which focused on promoting safe crossing practices, through education and engineering, within and around Macquarie Shopping Centre.
An educational campaign was employed for this project and included look stencils, bus shelter advertising and bridge banners. Environmental friendly bags were also produced for this project, with the words “Stop. Look. Listen. Think.”
GLS Workshops - Helping Learner Driver’s Become Safer Driver’s workshop
A 17 year old driver with a P1 licence is about four times more likely to be involved in a fatal crash than a driver aged 26 or older.
The Helping Learner Drivers Become Safer Drivers workshops are designed for parents and supervisors of learner drivers.
These FREE 2 hour workshops provide practical advice on:
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Understanding of the new laws for L and P licence holders.
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Supervising learner drivers.
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Completing the Learner Driver Log Book.
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Understanding the benefits of supervised on-road driving experience.
The course, developed by the RTA, assists parents and supervisors of learner drivers with the important role of advising and teaching novice drivers.
Where is the Workshop held: The City of Ryde Civic Centre- 1 Devlin Street, Ryde
When will this workshop be held: TBC - bookings are essential
Other Council’s also hold these workshops contact the RTA on 13 22 13 to find out when other workshops will be held throughout other Sydney councils.
"We can’t change age BUT WE CAN do something about inexperience"
Operation Roadsafe 
Operation RoadSafe saves lives and prevents injuries on Sydney roads through combining targeted enforcement with high profile media and community awareness.
It is a joint road safety initiative of the Roads and Traffic Authority, the NSW Police and the Motor Accidents Authority, together with the active involvement of Local Councils.
For more information visit Operation RoadSafe.
Speed - Slow Down in My Street
In the Ryde Local Government Area (LGA) speed is the highest contributing factor, with 10% of all crashes involving speed in 2006. In Ryde, crashes involving speed, increased in 2006 to 85, 36 of which were injury crashes and one which was a fatal crash.
The slow down in my street campaign targeted local streets within Ryde LGA with a history of speeding or speed related crashes. Various methods were used to ensure all drivers travelling through Ryde local streets abide by the legal speed limit, including the use of a Variable Message Signs (VMS) displays in key locations, police enforcement, and a continued partnership with the local Police to support Operation Roadsafe.
In May 2008 the Slow down in my Street campaign took place with a mobile speed display unit which detects and displays the speeds of passing vehicles used to create awareness to Ryde Driver’s of what speed they were traveling on Morrison Road, Gladesville. This helped to encourage appropriate speeds whilst driving down this road which houses residents and also a primary school.
Another Slow Down in My Street Speed campaign will be running throughout the Ryde LGA in 2009.
Seniors Road Safety
The Senior Road Safety Calendar has been provided by Northern Beaches Councils for over ten years now and has recently been adopted by North Shore Councils due to its popularity & success.
2007 was the first year that Ryde Council have been involved in the senior’s calendar. The calendar addresses senior pedestrians & driver safety issues, as well as general health issues such as getting regular eye checks, which could potentially affect a senior driver’s ability.
This Pilot Program brought the resources of 8 of the Northern Sydney Councils together, to produce the 2008 calendar and to expand the program to include peer education, local media advertising, and road safety activities during Senior’s Week. The main objectives of the program have been:
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To raise awareness to the incidence & severity of pedestrian & motor vehicle crashes involving older road users.
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To further enhance and develop the existing seniors program to continue to provide current, concise and relevant road safety information responsive to the needs expressed by older road users (CALD & senior with impairments).
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Provide other avenues of information accessibility, such as peer education, local media and interactive activities.
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To provide a sustainable program which meets the needs of the strongly aging population
The 2009 Seniors Road Safety Calendar are available from City of Ryde Council facilities, as well as local senior groups/centres and retirement villages.
Party Your Way Website
Party Your Way helps you look after your guests and yourself by being briefed on important issues in advance. It provides links
to a host of useful sites for tackling hot party topics such as:
