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Road Safety
Where are we now? Australia has made considerable progress in reducing the road toll since 1970, largely as a result of major initiatives such as compulsory seat belt usage, random breath testing and the upgrading of road infrastructure and improved vehicle safety. Nevertheless, during the past five years, fatalities have averaged around 1,700 per annum. The continuing road safety problem led Australian Governments to develop a 10 year National Road Safety Strategy (NRSS) that seeks to achieve a 40 percent reduction in the fatality rate by 2010. Since its inception, the Strategy has almost always been behind target. Fatalities per 100,000 Population Versus National Road Safety Strategy Target 
Sources: ATSB, Fatal Road Crash Database; Bureau of Transport and Regional Economics, 2002, Greenhouse Gas Emissions From Transport, Australian Trends to 2020: Report 107. While the fatality levels are serious, it is important to acknowledge that they tell only part of the story. Injury and property damage are also substantial issues. Each year in Australia there are more than:
In addition to the social cost there is a substantial economic cost. The Bureau of Transport and Regional Economics (BTRE) estimates the cost to the community at $15 billion per annum - equivalent to around 2.5 per cent of GDP. Cost of Road Crashes ($ Million) 
Source: Bureau of Transport and Regional Economics, 2000, Road Crash Costs in Australia. Road safety - although often viewed as a narrow transport issue - is in reality a preventable health issue with enormous impacts across the Australian economy. Hospitals, ambulance and police services, other emergency services, workplaces, leisure activities, home life and national productivity are all seriously impacted by poor road safety outcomes. What Needs to be Done? While national leadership from the Federal Government is essential to provide direction and momentum in the battle to reduce road trauma, State and Territory Governments carry much of the direct responsibility for attempting to address many practical road safety issues identified in the National Road Safety Strategy. The Strategy identifies a number of key measures that should contribute to saving around 700 lives a year by 2010. The strategy recognises the need to take a "systems approach" to savings lives; which recognises the mutual importance of safer drivers in safer vehicles on safer roads. The measure that has the greatest potential to save lives is safer roads (332 lives per year). Here's how the National Strategy will save 700 lives a year by 2010 
Safer Vehicles - Potential to save 175 lives per annum Engineering progress on vehicle safety has been remarkable over the past decade. This is an indication of the success of the various New Car Assessment Programs (Australia, Europe, the USA and Japan) in promoting crash test results and driving improvements in vehicle safety. Where once one and two-star cars were the norm, we now regularly see four and five star results in crash testing. However, AAA has for some time been concerned about "de-specification" of new cars sold in Australia. Whereas equipment such as side airbags may be standard on models sold in Europe, manufacturers often remove them from the same model imported to Australia. There is a need for vehicle manufacturers and importers to address this issue as a matter of urgency. Through ANCAP, AAA is continuing to promote improvements in vehicle safety in Australia, and drive world safety benchmarks towards best practice. AAA encourages the Federal Government to become a permanent member of ANCAP. Behaviour - Potential to save 158 lives per annum Behavioural change has the potential to produce the most immediate impact on road trauma as was seen between 1970 and 1997 with the introduction of random breath-testing, compulsory seatbelt usage, radar speed detectors and compulsory use of cycling and motor cycle helmets. Today, a strong enforcement regime continues but most of the 'magic bullets' seem to have been fired. Many involved in road safety are concerned about some of the advertising used to promote vehicles and associated goods such as tyres. The concerns centre on contradictory messages about speed, driver concentration and general driving behaviour. New Technology - Potential to save 35 lives per annum The use of technology to reduce human error road crashes is increasing, particularly at the prestige end of the vehicle market. Adaptive speed control, distance warning systems, computer assisted braking and other safety technology is likely to spread to most new vehicles over the next decade through a flow on effect. The potential of these technologies cannot be understated. For example, European research indicates that Electronic Stability Control (ESC) has the potential to "prevent 80% of all skidding accidents" and that "35% of all vehicle occupant fatalities could be prevented." Swedish research found that "...for Sweden, with a total of 500 vehicle related deaths annually, that 80-100 fatalities could be saved annually if all cars had ESC." Integrating safety technology into the road environment is, however, more problematical. While there have been trials of many safety systems such as intelligent speed signs and warnings, their wider application depends on government intervention. That intervention will cost money, and too often governments see such expenditure as a 'cost' rather than which it actually is, an 'investment', with substantial and measurable returns. Safer Roads - Potential to save 332 lives per annum Investing in safer or more forgiving roads will provide substantial benefits over the medium to long-term. The potential savings to the Australian economy in reduced crash costs would more than pay for that investment. Studies such as 'Benefits of Public Investment in the Nation's Road Infrastructure' - by the Allen Consulting Group - demonstrate that other economic benefits also flow - such as reductions in travel times, congestion and associated environmental problems. Currently the Federal Government funds treatment programs for identified black spots on Australian roads. The program is highly successful, producing a remarkable cost benefit ratio of 14:1. Funding levels are however relatively low, around $45 million per annum. Some State Governments have adopted similar programs. While these investments have been highly successful, there is need to move beyond 'black spots' to work towards making all road environments more forgiving. Considering the potential economic and social benefits involved, it would seem a compelling argument exists for greater investment in safer road infrastructure. Instead, Federal Government road funding over the past decade has diminished in real terms. State road budgets are also under pressure. The backlog has grown so great that many consider it beyond the resources of government. The point they are missing is that if we could achieve the NRSS target of a 40 per cent reduction in fatalities per annum by 2010, 700 fewer Australians would die on the roads each year. And if the 40 percent reduction in fatalities equates to a parallel reduction in other crash costs (injuries, long-term care etc), the potential savings to the nation are in the order of $6 billion each year. The Australian Road Assessment Program (AusRAP) is an approach to road safety being lead by AAA. AusRAP produces maps showing the risk of road crashes that cause deaths and injuries and rates roads for safety. It highlights improvements that could be made to roads to reduce the likelihood of crashes-and to make those that do happen survivable. AAA welcomes the Federal Government's involvement in AusRAP. The road safety problem in Australia is mirrored worldwide. More than 3,000 people are killed on the world's roads every day, the majority in poorer countries. AAA's road safety efforts are conducted in conjunction with international efforts of the FIA Foundation. Through the "Think Global" program, the Foundation is campaigning for the international community, the United Nations, the G8, to do more to combat road traffic injuries, particularly in developing countries. |
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