Former AFL star joins with government to improve road safety

Champion ex-West Coast Eagles footballer David Wirrpanda has joined governments across Australia to tackle national road safety.

Western Australian Transport Minister Simon O'Brien said Mr Wirrpanda was one of four high profile people appointed as ambassadors for the newly-formed National Road Safety Council (NRSC).

"It is pleasing to have David championing the road safety cause at a national level," Mr O'Brien said.

"As a former AFL star who achieved great distinction, David's profile should enable him to tap into the younger generation in the campaign to educate all road users on the importance of safety."

Mr Wirrpanda said he was pleased to lend assistance to such an important cause.  

Road safety is one of the key themes of the education and health promotion work conducted through the David Wirrpanda Foundation.

"I have a personal interest in road safety and I have seen the devastation fatal and serious road crashes have on families and communities," Mr Wirrpanda said.

"Aside from the human cost, road trauma is costly to governments and the community.

"Anything that contributes to a reduction in road trauma benefits all of us."

One of Mr Wirrpanda's first tasks will be to help promote the National Railway Level Crossing Safety Strategy (2010-2020) developed by the NRSC Australian Transport Council.

Released today, the strategy delivers a nationally co-ordinated action plan to reduce deaths and near-miss crashes at Australian railway level crossings.

There are 8,900 public railway level crossings in Australia - 1,251 of them in WA.

"While the State Government will spend about $20million on rail level crossing improvements  in 2009-10, it is still vital we have a national approach.  That is what this strategy will facilitate," the Minister said.

The strategy assigns responsibility for critical action items, including:

·                creating a nationally-aligned approach to safety at level crossings

·                applying lessons from road safety practices to railway level crossing safety management

·                improving community understanding of the risks and importance of compliance

·                harnessing new technologies to enhance safety at level crossings.

Mr O'Brien said reducing crashes at railway level crossings would have a big impact on further reducing Australia's road toll.

"All governments want to deliver on this strategy to improve safety outcomes at level crossings," he said.