The timing of the announced National Road Safety Governance Review is putting lives at risk by running down the clock in the lead-up to the election instead of taking action on much-needed road safety measures.

Australian Automobile Association (AAA) Chief Executive Michael Bradley noted that the review’s terms of reference indicate it will report to the Transport and Infrastructure Council at the council’s next meeting, which is scheduled for May.

“That will be right in the middle of ‘caretaker’ period for the Federal Election, when the Federal Government cannot make any commitments,” Mr Bradley said.

“In reality, this report won’t be considered in the first half of 2019 as stated – it must wait until the second half of the year at the very earliest.

The Terms of Reference also indicate that the Department of Infrastructure’s Road Safety Taskforce will undertake the review.

“This is essentially the government reviewing itself,” Mr Bradley said. “That is hardly best practice.”

Last September, the expert Inquiry into the National Road Safety Strategy delivered 12 key recommendations designed to significantly reduce Australia’s road toll.

“Motorists are still waiting for all sides of politics to give a comprehensive response to those recommendations and make concrete commitments to reduce deaths and injuries on our roads,” Mr Bradley said.

“So far, neither the Government nor the Opposition has done so.

“This constant dillydallying is putting the lives of motorists and pedestrians at serious risk. It is a key reason why Australia is not on track to meet any of the road safety targets committed to eight years ago.”