Community Action for Safe Speeds - CASS Study

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Consultation has concluded

Helping Shape Safer Roads in Coffs Harbour

Speeding is the biggest contributor to road crashes.
No matter the cause of a crash, speed directly affects how severe the outcome is — higher speeds mean greater injuries. Slowing down is one of the simplest ways we can all help each other get home safely.

About the Community Action for Safe Speeds (CASS) Study

The Community Action for Safe Speeds (CASS) study is a pilot project led by researchers at The George Institute for Global Health, supported by the City of Coffs Harbour. The study aims to explore new ways to educate communities about safe speeds and reduce road trauma.

CASS is running across seven NSW local government areas — a mix of metro and regional communities — to see how local people can help shape safer driving behaviours. In addition to Coffs Harbour, the participating councils are:

  • Mid-Western Regional Council
  • Port Stephens Council
  • Parkes Shire Council
  • City of Canterbury-Bankstown
  • City of Sydney
  • City of Ryde

Learn more about the CASS Study.

Phase One - CASS Coffs Harbour Community Jury

Coffs Harbour residents and workers were invited to join this world-first road safety initiative – using a community jury – to deliberate on ways to enhance community understanding of the importance of safe travel speeds. The diverse community jury of 20 people heard from experts then had a missive: to seek new ways to help the community understand the importance of safe travel speeds. They made recommendations to the experts and council to encourage safer driving behaviours in our region so that every journey is a safe. A campaign was borne.

Phase Two - CASS Online Survey

This phase of the pilot focused on the broader community and their understanding community attitudes toward road safety issues, including speeding.

Phase Three – Driven by Coffs People for Coffs Roads

Guided by the community jury’s recommendations, the City of Coffs Harbour developed a bold, uniquely local campaign encouraging drivers to better manage their speed.

The campaign catch-line was: ‘slow the f*st down, thank you, Coffs.’

This message was seen across the city — on buses, bumper stickers, social media, radio, road signs and traditional media for the summer of 25/26. The community embraced the campaign and helped show their support for the message: ‘slow the fast down, thank you Coffs’ by displaying their bumper stickers, committing to driving at safe speeds, requesting road signs for their streets, and sharing the message to encourage driving safer speeds in our region.

Sincere gratitude to all who embrace and practice the campaign messaging to 'slow the f*st down'.

Your community thanks you.

Helping Shape Safer Roads in Coffs Harbour

Speeding is the biggest contributor to road crashes.
No matter the cause of a crash, speed directly affects how severe the outcome is — higher speeds mean greater injuries. Slowing down is one of the simplest ways we can all help each other get home safely.

About the Community Action for Safe Speeds (CASS) Study

The Community Action for Safe Speeds (CASS) study is a pilot project led by researchers at The George Institute for Global Health, supported by the City of Coffs Harbour. The study aims to explore new ways to educate communities about safe speeds and reduce road trauma.

CASS is running across seven NSW local government areas — a mix of metro and regional communities — to see how local people can help shape safer driving behaviours. In addition to Coffs Harbour, the participating councils are:

  • Mid-Western Regional Council
  • Port Stephens Council
  • Parkes Shire Council
  • City of Canterbury-Bankstown
  • City of Sydney
  • City of Ryde

Learn more about the CASS Study.

Phase One - CASS Coffs Harbour Community Jury

Coffs Harbour residents and workers were invited to join this world-first road safety initiative – using a community jury – to deliberate on ways to enhance community understanding of the importance of safe travel speeds. The diverse community jury of 20 people heard from experts then had a missive: to seek new ways to help the community understand the importance of safe travel speeds. They made recommendations to the experts and council to encourage safer driving behaviours in our region so that every journey is a safe. A campaign was borne.

Phase Two - CASS Online Survey

This phase of the pilot focused on the broader community and their understanding community attitudes toward road safety issues, including speeding.

Phase Three – Driven by Coffs People for Coffs Roads

Guided by the community jury’s recommendations, the City of Coffs Harbour developed a bold, uniquely local campaign encouraging drivers to better manage their speed.

The campaign catch-line was: ‘slow the f*st down, thank you, Coffs.’

This message was seen across the city — on buses, bumper stickers, social media, radio, road signs and traditional media for the summer of 25/26. The community embraced the campaign and helped show their support for the message: ‘slow the fast down, thank you Coffs’ by displaying their bumper stickers, committing to driving at safe speeds, requesting road signs for their streets, and sharing the message to encourage driving safer speeds in our region.

Sincere gratitude to all who embrace and practice the campaign messaging to 'slow the f*st down'.

Your community thanks you.

Consultation has concluded

  • PHASE THREE - Complete - Community driven summer road safety campaign

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    Phase Three – Driven by Coffs People for Coffs Roads 'slow the f*st down, thank you Coffs'

    Guided by the community jury’s recommendations, the City of Coffs Harbour developed a bold, uniquely local campaign encouraging drivers to better manage their speed.

    The campaign catch-line:

    ‘Slow the f*st down, thank you, Coffs.’

    This message was seen across the city — on buses, bumper stickers, social media, and traditional media — from November 2025 until February 2026.

    The campaign featured at key local events, including: All One Under The Sun Festival in November 2025

    How did you support the Road Safety Campaign?

    The community helped spread the message: ‘slow the f*st down, thank you Coffs’ learn more here.

    Three easy ways you got involved:

    1. Stick it
    You embraced the campaign stickers to show support for the message. They were displayed on your cars, motorbikes, utes, vans and trailers.

    2. Drive it
    Commit to driving at safe speeds — and adjusting for road and weather conditions. People committed to not speed, vibed to the radio ads, and emailed in requests for road signs to be placed in their area.

    3. Share it
    People talked to others about the importance of safe speeds. They shared the campaign on social media and helped encourage safer driving across our region.

    Free bumper stickers were available from community engagements and:

    • Coffs Libraries

    • Yarrila Place Customer Service

  • PHASE ONE – Community Jury on Safe Speeds

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    PHASE ONE – Community Jury on Safe Speeds (Now Closed)

    Thank you to everyone who submitted an Expression of Interest to take part in the Community Jury, a key component of this important research project focused on reducing speed and creating safer local roads in Coffs Harbour.

    The Community Jury brought together a diverse group of residents to learn from road safety experts, discuss local experiences, and develop community-driven recommendations around safe speeds.

    What was involved:

    • Four jury sessions over four weeks (14 hours in total)

    • Expert presentations on speeding, road safety, and behaviour change

    • Group discussions and opportunities for participants to propose their own ideas

    • Contribution to a final report of community-led recommendations

    Application process:

    • Residents were eligible if they were 18 years or older, lived, worked, or frequently drove in the Coffs Harbour LGA, were comfortable communicating in English, and could commit to attending all four sessions

    • People with professional experience in road safety were not eligible

    • Demographic diversity was considered, and a waitlist applied once target numbers were met

    The insights and recommendations developed through the Community Jury will help shape future education and awareness initiatives across the region.

    The Education and Awareness of Safe Speeds in Communities project is funded by the Australian Government through the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts.





  • PHASE TWO – Community Road Safety Survey (Now Closed)

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    PHASE TWO – Community Road Safety Survey (Now Closed)

    Thank you to everyone who participated in the CASS Online Survey, delivered in partnership with The George Institute.

    This phase of the pilot focused on understanding community attitudes toward road safety issues, including speeding. Participants completed a 20-minute online survey on two occasions, six months apart, providing valuable insights into how people perceive safe speeds in their local area.

    What was involved:

    • Completing a 20-minute online survey twice, six months apart

    • Answering questions about demographics and attitudes to road safety, including speeds in your community

    • Entry into a prize draw for one of four $250 e-gift vouchers (per participating LGA) upon completing both surveys

    Eligibility:

    • Aged 18 years or older

    • Able to complete the survey in English

    • Willing to complete both surveys, six months apart

    • Live or work in a participating LGA – City of Coffs Harbour

    The insights gathered will help inform future education and awareness initiatives to support safer speeds in our communities.

    The Education and Awareness of Safe Speeds in Communities project is funded by the Australian Government through the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts.