Local Government and Road Safety
 

Road safety is a critically important issue for local communities – and therefore for local councils.

Local roads comprise 85% by length of Australia’s road network.  They are the essential means of accessing homes, businesses, health, education and community services and recreational opportunities.

Local roads are a vital component of the ‘residential amenity’ of our neighbourhoods – and a crucial part of this amenity is safety.

It is estimated that by 2020, Australia’s total freight task will almost double; urban passenger trips will increase by about a third; and non-urban passenger travel could rise by about 70%.  This growth will place much greater demands on local transport infrastructure and the safety margins of our road system.

In meeting these needs, local government is a crucial partner in the efficient and effective planning, funding and delivery of road services.  The ‘Roads to Recovery’ (R2R) and ‘Black Spots’ programs are excellent examples of federal and local government partnerships which provide direct benefits to our community.

In the 2003 review of the ‘Roads to Recovery’ program, greater safety was a major outcome from the nearly 10,000 R2R projects.  Improving the surface condition, width and alignment of many local roads, upgrading dangerous intersections and better signage, all made a real difference to road safety in our community.

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