Inaugural New Zealand road safety awards

For immediate release
14 July 2003

Entries open for inaugural New Zealand road safety awards

WANTED: Innovators and groundbreakers in the field of road safety - rewards available.

The first ever national awards programme for breakthroughs in New Zealand road safety is about to be launched, with entries for the inaugural Road Safety Innovation Awards opening tomorrow (July 15).

The awards will recognise road safety innovations from individuals, organisations and communities, in the following categories:

- School Road Safety

- Community Road Safety

- Corporate Road Safety

- Vehicle-Based Innovations

- Road-Based Innovations

In addition to prestige and peer recognition, the winner in each award category will receive a cash prize of $2,000, with an overall Premier Award winner receiving an additional $3,000 prize.

To be eligible for the awards, innovations must originate within New Zealand, and not be the implementation of existing overseas or national programmes. Existing ideas will only be eligible if they have been significantly and innovatively adapted in New Zealand.

Inspired by the Prince Michael Road Safety Awards in the UK, it is hoped the New Zealand awards will highlight examples of road safety innovation in this country and encourage others to follow suit.

The awards programme is funded by the Road Safety Trust and administered by the Land Transport Safety Authority. The awards organising committee includes representatives from the New Zealand Automobile Association, AA Driver Education Foundation, New Zealand Police, ACC and the LTSA.

Entries will be judged by an expert panel, with the awards presented at a ceremony to be held in Wellington early in 2004. Entries close on 21 October 2003.

For more information on the awards, including criteria for entry in the different categories, visit www.roadsafetyinnovationawards.org.nz , or ring 0800 699 000.

Note: website not live until Tuesday 15 July 2003.

ENDS

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