MEDIA RELEASE - Thursday 2 January 2025
“Senator Glenn Sterle - 2025 Alex Road Safety Award Recipient”
Peter Frazer OAM, Founder and President of Safer Australian Roads and Highways (SARAH), is delighted to announce Senator Glenn Sterle as the 2025 Recipient of the Senator Alex Gallacher Road Safety Award.
Mr Frazer noted that Senator Sterle has dedicated his career to enhancing road safety across Australia. Beginning as a truck driver and union official, Senator Sterle brought his on-the-ground experience to the Senate, where he has championed initiatives to improve safety within the transport sector and beyond.
Mr Frazer commended Senator Sterle for his unwavering dedication declaring that:
“Senator Sterle’s life-long commitment, tireless advocacy and substantial contributions in the road safety space, embodies the spirit of the Alex Award. He is an extraordinary road safety champion, driven by the belief that “Every Australian has the right to get home safe to their loved ones… Every Day… No Exceptions!”
In his congratulatory comments, the Hon Anthony Chisholm, Assistant Minister for Regional Development noted:
“If there’s one thing you know about Glenn, its his passion and commitment to road safety. He lives and breathes it 24/7, and he's used his position as a Senator to effectively and passionately advocate to improve road safety right across the sector, benefiting workers, but also families and communities at the same time.”
In accepting the Award, Senator Sterle stated:
“I’m deeply humbled to receive this Award in honour of my great mate, Alex Gallacher. Alex was a relentless advocate for road safety, and I strive every day to continue his legacy. We must work together to ensure safer roads for everyone.”
As Mr Frazer and Senator Sterle are on different sides of the country, the Award Announcement was made via video link. Click here to view the Award Video. I
During their discussions, Senator Sterle highlighted the importance of integrating advanced technologies, such as telematics and driver monitoring systems, into heavy vehicles to prevent crashes and save lives. He also emphasized the urgent need for more rest areas for truck and long-distance drivers, improved infrastructure to accommodate Australia’s growing freight demands, dealing with the rising risks from mixing heavy freight with regular traffic on inadequate roads and highways, and importantly, as a direct measure to improve road safety, the need to increase the use of rail in order to transport Australia’s freight.
Lastly, with road fatalities rising at an alarming rate, Senator Sterle stressed the need to prioritise road safety and to redouble our national commitment of reducing road deaths to less than 570 by 2030.
