Rural Road Safety Month runs to the end of August and aims to make drivers more aware of how their in-car behaviour can improve safety on regional roads.

With the State government partnering with the Australian Road Safety Foundation to support the initiative, Myall Lakes MP Stephen Bromhead has lent his voice to the campaign, urging motorists in the Great Lakes to slow down and be aware of their choices behind the wheel in order to curb the State's road toll.

"Road safety is everyone's responsibility and we all have a part to play when we get behind the wheel," he said.

A car crash survivor himself, Mr Bromhead shared some facts that he could relate to personally after his 2011 accident on The Lakes Way.

"People often believe that incidents on country roads are caused by motorists who are unfamiliar with the roads. The reality is that most incidents occur within a few kilometres of home, by motorists who have driven those roads many times," he said.

"It's this familiarity that often leads to dangerous driver behaviour. Too often people think it's okay for them to quickly check a text, to drive faster than the speed limit because they know the road or to get behind the wheel when they're tired. It's not."

According to the Australian Road Safety Foundation website, accidents on rural roads contribute to 65% of the Australian road toll and the rate of serious road-related injury is nearly twice as high among residents in rural areas than it is among those in major cities.

To find out more about the campaign or learn how you can get involved, click here.

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