21 December 2020

Billboards the size of cinema screens on popular driving routes in the Central West and North West are putting a focus on the critical role flexible safety barriers have to play in saving lives on the state's regional highways.

Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Paul Toole said the billboards will promote work being carried out to improve safety on the Mitchell, Great Western and Kamilaroi highways.

"This is the first time we've used large-scale billboards to highlight the importance of flexible safety barriers on our regional road network and we are confident it will send a powerful message," Mr Toole said.

Mr Toole said the billboards featured one of the many freight vehicles and cars that frequent these routes with a simple one-line message about flexible safety barriers.

"These flexible safety barriers reduce the severity of head-on crashes by up to 95 per cent," Mr Toole said.

"The hope is that this statistic will resonate with motorists as part of the NSW Government's commitment to reducing the number of fatalities and serious injuries on regional roads.

"With more people travelling through regional NSW over the Christmas and New Year break, the billboards will be a timely reminder for drivers on our country roads to be vigilant and stay safe."

The mobile billboards will be installed along the Great Western Highway at Glanmire, Mitchell Highway at Guyong and the Kamilaroi Highway at Narrabri.

Safety barriers, rumble strips and wide centrelines will be rolled out across NSW's road network as part of a record $822 million investment into road safety infrastructure upgrades through the Safer Roads Program.

For more information about the Saving Lives on Country Roads program, visit Saving Lives on Country Roads Initiative website. You can see the Safer Roads Program Map at the Safe Roads website.