Australia Post's urgent plea as scary footage emerges: 'Be alert'
Aussie drivers are being urged to exercise caution to keep postal workers out of harm's way.
Australia Post is urging motorists to slow down and keep an eye out for their local postie, releasing shocking new footage along with new data that shows more than one postal worker is injured on our roads every week.
The data reveals that during the 2022-23 financial year, 65 posties were injured as a direct result of third-party traffic accidents, with injuries including everything from broken limbs to concussions. Many of these incidents resulted in hospital stays, extended periods of leave and psychological trauma.
Harrowing crash footage released
In an incident last month, shown in video provided to Yahoo News, a postie is seen riding across an intersection when, seemingly out of nowhere, he's struck by another motorist. Knocked from his bike, he's seen lying on the ground, clutching his injured leg.
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In a second incident which occurred on June 16, a camera caught the moment a postie's bike ended up on the footpath after being struck side-on by a truck. The footage is harrowing to watch, with the postie flying backwards, out of frame, towards the rear of the larger vehicle after being hit.
In another grizzly clip captured on the same day, a truck driver is seen speeding into a suburban intersection, unaware that a postal worker is approaching with the right of way. By the time the truck driver spots the postie and tries to stop, it's too late — and a crash ensues.
Most dangerous state for posties
Although Australia Post couriers have been injured all around Australia over the past year, NSW recorded more accidents than any other state.
AusPost says third-party accidents involving posties usually arise from poor driver behaviours, such as not looking when using roundabouts, speeding through roundabouts, failing to stop at a stop sign or give way sign, driving distracted by a mobile phone, and not leaving enough space to stop safely.
Australia Post's plea to motorists
Australia Post's General Manager of Safety and Wellbeing, Rod Maule, says that even one vehicle-related accident is too many and pleaded for motorists to drive safely at all times. "While we want our team to deliver for all Australians, we also want each of them to safely get home to their families at the end of the day," Mr Maule said.
"Safety is our number-one priority, which is why we've invested millions of dollars into advanced technology and training to keep our team safe on the road. But it isn't just up to us," he added. "We are asking all drivers to be alert and keep an eye out for our posties, especially over the next few months as we ramp up deliveries in the lead-up to Christmas."
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