Public awareness campaign to ensure members make it home for Christmas
Australia Post has launched a public awareness campaign encouraging Australians to take simple steps that may help to keep posties and delivery drivers safe as they ramp up to the busy peak period, this year.
CEPU Communications Division (CWU) National Secretary Greg Rayner said the Union was right behind the initiative.
“In the leadup to what is Australia Post’s busiest time of the year, I would urge the public to take note of the significant increase in risk to our members’ safety this peak period poses.
“On our roads and even in front yards across the country, our members will come face to face with unexpected hazards due to often overlooked and simply avoided circumstances.
“By taking some extra time to ensure our dogs and other animals in yards are restrained and secured, while being a little more aware of our surroundings on the road, we can all make sure our Christmas gifts arrive on time and our members make it home to celebrate this wonderful time of the year with their loved ones.”
Australia Post said there were more than 370 incidents involving injuries caused by dogs in the 2019 financial year, and for the same period, more than two posties were injured in motor vehicle accidents every workday.
Australia Post Group CEO Christine Holgate said that over the 2019 financial year alone, there were 230 postie related motor vehicle accidents across Australia, and that action needed to be taken to reduce that number.
“We make sure our posties undergo comprehensive safety training as well as have protective equipment, high visibility flags and clothing to make them easier to spot. Above all though, we rely on the entire community to help look after their safety,” Ms Holgate said.
“We're asking drivers to slow down, toot their horns and be wary of posties and pedestrians by carefully checking all directions before reversing from their driveway.”
Australia Post’s top tips to help avoid accidents with its posties and drivers are:
· Put your mobile phone out of reach when driving
· Slow down when approaching roundabouts
· Use your mirrors and check your blind sports for motorcycles and cyclists before turning or changing lanes
· When reversing out of your driveway, toot your horn and move slowly
· Keep your dogs and other animals confined to your property
· Keep your dog on a leash when off your property
More than 10,000 posties across the country deliver to some 12.1 million physical addresses each business day. Posties spend most of their working days on the footpath or the road.
