Australia is one huge place - and there are plenty of roads that need matinence, but it doesn't seem to happen. Speak up about it!
Submitted
17/01/2006
By
beaney
Views
11232
Comments
2
Updated
13/04/2006
What’s involved?
What’s up with it?
Almost everywhere we go in our day-to-day lives requires a car. Getting our licence (and escaping our parents!) is a time most of us eagerly anticipate. The long distances travelled–especially by rural and country kids who have no public transport alternatives–require safe roads to drive on to prevent the rather tragic consequences which can arise from poor roads.
What can I do?
*SPEAK UP!*
Writing to MPs and government officials may be the best way to change you local road conditions, as they control the funding of these projects.
*If it’s in your local area, contact your local MP.
*Or contact the Minister who controls that sector (eg. roads) on a state or national level.
*This site lists all the MPs in Australia, their location, specific areas of control and email addresses for contact: http://www.aph.gov.au/house/members/memlist.pdf.
*Sign a petition which can help your voice be heard.
*Send an email – the link above shows local MP’s email addresses.
*www.fixourbloodyroads.com is a campaign to encourage the government to repair three major highways in Australia – just fill out your name and email address, and an automated email sends you plea for improvement to several MPs.
*Tell the RTA or your local council chamber of a dodgy road.
Taking action is easy!
I sat in the car, watching the little patch of my arm getting burnt. I know I’d have a hideous t-shirt tan on one arm. And I couldn’t pull it into the shade – there just wasn’t any. Then I looked out at the road – the endless mass of Tar known as the Pacific Highway. My friend had recently gotten into an accident on this highway, and I knew that if we weren’t lucky on our trip off to Coffs Harbour, we’d probably be stopped by a queue from an accident. Nearly every other trip we had been stopped. I began to wonder why there were so many accidents on our roads. It wasn’t just shoddy drivers.
I was trying to think of a way to take action. Then a billboard caught my eye.
Step 1: Sitting in a car, jotting down the web site a billboard told me to visit.
Step 2: Sitting at my computer, typing in the web site the billboard told me to visit.
The web site, http://www.fixourbloodyroads.com, sent an email to various MPs about the state of one of three highways-- particularly the Pacific, Hume and the Princes Highways. I chose the Pacific Highway, because it’s the highway that runs through my home town. They responded telling me of the changes which they were contributing to throughout the next few years.
It was nearly two days later when I realised that I’d contributed to making a change for my community. I’d told them I wasn’t happy with the way things were going – and they were paid to listen.
And I’d taken action. Easy!
I want to do this!
