The National Road Safety Strategy
The
National Road Safety Strategy (NRSS) 2001-2010 was released by
the Federal Minister for Transport, John Anderson in November 2000. The target of the NRSS is to reduce
Australia’s road fatality rate per 100,000 population from 9.3 in 1999
to no more than 5.6 in 2010 – a 40% reduction.
Over the life of the NRSS, a 40% reduction in fatalities
per population equates to a saving of around 3,352 lives, and avoids the waste of
more than $5 billion.
The Strategy says that as well as driver
behaviour, vehicle safety and new technology, fixing the roads will have a major impact
on safety.
National Road Safety Strategy
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Safer Drivers
Issues relating to road user behaviour continue
to be major causes for road crashes.
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Speeding is a factor in 1 in 4 fatal crashes
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Alcohol is a factor in 1 in 4 of fatal crashes
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Fatigue is thought to be potentially as
serious an issue as alcohol in Australia.
Additionally, despite that fact seat belt
usage rates are high - around 95% - around 1 in 3 people killed in
crashes weren't wearing their belt.
There is clearly a need to for drivers to make greater efforts to drive responsibly.
Safer Vehicles
By building and driving safer
vehicles, lives can be saved. Safety features like airbags,
anti-lock braking, seat belts that reduce forward movement gradually
and reduce slack early in a crash, and better structural design can
substantially reduce the severity of people's injuries.
Since the
Australian New Car
Assessment Program (ANCAP) began in 1992, there has been a noticeable
improvement in the 'crash worthiness' of cars. The driver of
a Holden Commodore is now much less likely to sustain serious head injuries in
a frontal crash than they were 10 years ago.
The introduction of new
technologies such as 'intelligent speed adaptation' also has the
potential reduce deaths and injuries. The
Transport Accident Commission / Monash University Accident Research
Centre / Ford 'SafeCar' is able to demonstrate these features.
Safer Roads
While many crashes are caused by driver behaviour, such as drink
driving, speeding alcohol, it is the roads and road environment that
can play a big role in making those crashes that do happen survivable.
For example, the risk of having a crash decreases by 25% when sealed
shoulders are added to a normal two lane road. The risk of being
involved in a crash when driving on a divided road is 55% lower than that of
a normal two lane road.
Proven Ways to Save Lives
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