Fairfax Radio Network’s Perth stations 6PR and 96fm will launch their own road safety campaign this Easter.  The initiative came after a powerful interview by 6PR Mornings presenter Gary Adshead with Maria O’Shea, the West Australian mother who lost three of her four children in a car accident caused by a driver who was texting.
 
Fairfax Radio Network Perth management and staff were so moved by the interview, the stations decided to launch their own campaign to try to change behaviour and stop people from texting whilst driving.
 
A series of six ads will go to air from this Thursday April 17, and continue over the Easter break and across the ANZAC Day long weekend. The ads will be presented by 6PR’s Gary Adshead and 96fm Breakfast announcer Ian Blackley. In addition, the West Australian Police Commissioner Karl O’Callaghan, who was interviewed about the danger and prevalence of driving and texting, will present an ad for the campaign.
 
6PR and 96fm Sales Director Brooke Timmins-Taulelei said: “We’ve been so moved by the terrible impact to just this one local family, let alone the many others that go unheard of, that we felt compelled to act. 

With many people driving out of town for an Easter break, 6PR and 96fm are the perfect medium to communicate this critical message. We play an important role in the community and this is one way we can try to avert any more terrible and unnecessary tragedies. The issue of texting and driving will continue to be an important talk topic on 6PR.”