New Zealand lights up for road safety

The Yellow Ribbon National Road Safety Alliance was established in 2016 in New Zealand in concert with Road Safety Education Limited’s NZ partners (currently BOC, NZ Steel, Bridgestone and VTNZ) and Brake, the road safety charity.  The goal of the Alliance is to draw attention to road safety through symbolism that includes wearing a yellow ribbon and the lighting up of icons, buildings and bridges – particularly around road safety weeks.  The Alliance marked the important presence of the yellow ribon on both sides of the Tasman, following the establishment of National Road Safety Week in Australia, of which Road Safety Education Limited is a Principal Partner.

This year in New Zealand, the Alliance arranged to have a number of icons structures around NZ lit up in yellow.  Promoting road safety through their yellow glow were:

• Vector Lights Auckland Harbour Bridge
• Sky Tower
• Anzac Parade Bridge – Hamilton
• #I love Taupō sign – Taupo
• Gisborne town clock
• Upper Hutt Fantail
• Michael Fowler centre
• Oamaru Light house
• Alexandra clock tower
• Cromwell fruit sign

Along with lighting up icons we also encouraged people to wear yellow and yellow ribbon pins.  RSE NZ Manager Maria Lovelock said “We were really grateful to Vector Lights for supporting the Yellow Ribbon Alliance by lighting up the Auckland Harbour Bridge, this served as the inspiration needed to encourage other towns and cities to get involved this year.  We expect this movement to gain momentum and hope to add other towns and cities in 2023.”

Several of our partners also joined in the fun running wear yellow to work days and signing pledges towards reducing road trauma.  Our partners also celebrated the achievements of individuals and groups through RSE’s Supporting Excellence in Road Safety Awards.  New Zealand’s 2022 Road Safety week ran from the 9 –  15 May.