The AAA has undertaken extensive consultation with a wide range of experts and organisations. There is a consensus that the Australian Government can make the nation’s roads safer by using its powers and responsibilities in several crucial ways.
1. Develop a national road safety data hub.
The Office of Road Safety coordinates Australia’s road safety data collection, analysis and reporting capabilities. Robust data must be used to inform road safety interventions and this data must underpin measurable targets, transparent reporting and real accountability.
As a matter of urgency, Commonwealth, state and territory governments decide upon a measurement of serious injury and regularly report on it.
The Office of Road Safety administers a national AusRAP hub to maximise the life-saving potential of Australian Government infrastructure investment and meet the agreed policy targets for 3-star and better roads across Australia.
2. Link federal infrastructure funding to road safety outcomes.
The Australian Government insists on accountability for responsible use of federal infrastructure funding, including reporting and monitoring of post-construction road safety performance.
Road project proposals demonstrate safety benefits that have been quantified by agreed standards.
States and territories that fulfil their National Road Safety Strategy reporting and compliance obligations receive incentive payments.
3. Enhance vehicle safety standards and encourage the uptake of safer vehicles.
Australia actively participates in developing United Nations vehicle standards and accelerates implementation of these standards in Australia.
Australia sets targets to reduce the average age of its vehicle fleet – so that unsafe older vehicles are replaced – as well as initiatives that drive progress towards these targets.
The Australian Government supports non-regulatory measures to encourage the latest safety technologies in new vehicles on the Australian market, including via the Australasian New Car Assessment Program, government fleet buying policies and voluntary undertakings by the industry.
4. Assign the Office of Road Safety a leadership role and genuine authority.
The Office of Road Safety:
- develops a whole-of-government approach to road safety, fostering communication and collaboration between departments, statutory authorities and jurisdictions to deliver better, more cost-effective outcomes
- identifies best practice to support policy harmonisation between states and territories
- oversees a national road safety research and capacity building program that informs evidence-based policy, infrastructure and vehicle design
- oversees the development and implementation of the next National Road Safety Strategy, ensuring it is well resourced, and guided by robust and transparent data and well-defined metrics and targets
- ensures accountability by being responsible for translating the targets in the National Road Safety Strategy into the required actions.
