Ministerial Council progresses new road safety strategy

The Ministerial Council on Road Safety has today agreed to present the recommended road safety strategy, Towards Zero, to Cabinet.

The council supported the strategy, which if implemented fully, would potentially save 11,000 people from being killed or seriously injured on Western Australian roads over twelve years.

Road Safety Minister Rob Johnson said that Towards Zero could save the WA community up to $4.1billion in unnecessary costs associated with road crash deaths and serious injury.

"This strategy recognises that while some people deliberately violate the road rules -and we will continue to strongly target these people - there are many more who simply make mistakes and they shouldn't have to die or be seriously injured for it," Mr Johnson said.

"While the council has supported the strategy, it is recognised at this time that a financial commitment as contained in each of the recommendations is not possible.

"Nevertheless, the council believes the implementation of the four pillars of the strategy - safe road users; safe roads and roadsides; safe speeds; safe vehicles - should be the focus of government initiatives over the next 12 years.

"The strategy gives an excellent overview of the actions required to achieve the desired outcomes. On acceptance of the strategy, the State Government will need to work with individual agencies to determine how to best progress these initiatives."

The recommended strategy was developed with bipartisan involvement through the Parliamentary Reference Group and included Australia's biggest-ever community consultation on road safety in metropolitan, regional and remote Western Australia.

Once tabled in Parliament, the Towards Zero document would guide WA road safety initiatives for the next 12 years, with more detailed and specific actions decided and implemented through a series of four-year action plans.

The recommendations focus on metropolitan, regional and remote WA, utilising the globally accepted safe-system approach, which aims to reduce death and serious injury.

"Importantly, during this comprehensive and thorough process, vital road safety functions are continuing, including enforcement, infrastructure programs and behavioural campaigns.  We are also continuing with community education, training in schools, policy development and research," the Minister said.

"New initiatives and developments that are currently progressing, such as the review of speed enforcement, the promotion of safer vehicles, road improvement projects and changes to improve novice driver safety, are consistent with the direction of the new road safety strategy for WA."

The council also agreed to progress the Repeat Drink Driving Strategy (RDDS) as a high priority of the Government.

The RDDS initiatives are designed to reduce the incidence of drink driving-related offences and their associated harm.  The RDDS includes:

• an alcohol ignition interlock (AIS) scheme
• vehicle sanctions with provision to impound or confiscate the vehicles of repeat drink driving offenders and those who drive without a valid licence
• rehabilitation for repeat drink driving offenders with serious alcohol problems
• initiatives to limit unlicensed driving including compulsory carriage of licence and increased detection of those driving without a valid licence
• compulsory blood alcohol analysis for all drivers involved in a fatal or serious injury crash.

"About 4,000 drivers are convicted of a repeat drink driving offence each year, which is simply not acceptable," Mr Johnson said.

"Enhanced enforcement and health treatment options need to be introduced to stop these repeat offenders. They are a risk to all road users."  

The Ministerial Council on Road Safety was formed to monitor, co-ordinate and approve major road safety policy and strategic development and implementation. The members include the Ministers for Police, Emergency Services and Road Safety; Health; Education; Transport; Planning; Local Government; and Regional Development.  

The recommended road safety strategy, Towards Zero, the Ministerial Council charter and details of the Repeat Drink Driving Strategy can be viewed at http://www.ors.wa.gov.au