The RAA has released key recommendations from its recent Road Safety Roundtable, aiming to enhance road safety across South Australia. The roundtable was held in the lead-up to National Road Safety Week on 2 May 2024. It brought together industry experts and decision-makers, including the Minister for Road Safety, emergency services representatives, road safety experts, and industry associations. The purpose was to address the challenges in achieving the targets set by the South Australian (SA) Road Safety Strategy.
The SA Road Safety Strategy and Action Plan aims for a 50% reduction in lives lost and a 30% reduction in serious injuries by 2031. However, recent data from SA Police indicates that these targets are not currently on track. Over the 12 months leading up to the end of March 2024, there were 99 fatalities and 807 serious injuries on SA roads, exceeding the targets by 18% and 23%, respectively.
The roundtable identified three critical areas requiring significant improvement: vulnerable road users, regional road safety, and road user behaviour. Several key recommendations emerged from the discussions, highlighting practical steps to enhance road safety:
- Road Rules Test for Licence Renewal: It was recommended that all licence holders should undertake and pass an online road rules test prior to licence renewal every 10 years. This initiative aims to ensure drivers are up-to-date with current road regulations.
- Regional Road Safety Education: The roundtable suggested investigating options to provide regional road safety education programs. These could be delivered in partnership with local community organisations to address specific regional needs.
- Review of Earphone and Headphone Use: The impact of wearing earphones and headphones while driving or riding was highlighted. The recommendation calls for a review and possible restrictions on their use to prevent distractions and improve safety.
- Investment in Road Network Maintenance: Advocacy for increased investment in road network maintenance was emphasised. This would address the backlog of required works and enhance overall road safety.
- Education on Alcohol Consumption: Exploring ways to educate the community on the negative impacts of alcohol consumption on driving capability was recommended. Increasing public awareness could help reduce alcohol-related road incidents.
- Lower Speed Limits in Local Streets: Continuing to explore and implement lower speed limits in local streets was discussed. Informing communities about the safety and amenity improvements in lower speed environments was also recommended.
- Frequent Release of Crash Data: It was suggested that crash data should be released every six months instead of annually. This would provide more timely information and enable quicker responses to emerging trends.
Charles Mountain, RAA’s Senior Manager Road Safety, praised the roundtable’s outcomes. “These recommendations are a great starting point to progress initiatives that will improve road safety and hopefully help save lives on our roads,” Mr. Mountain said. He noted the productive discussions and the strong sense of collaboration among participants. “We’ll now work with the relevant stakeholders to investigate and prioritise some of the key recommendations to determine if they’ll have a positive impact on reducing road trauma and improving road safety.”
The recommendations provide a focused approach to tackling the issues identified in the SA Road Safety Strategy. As South Australia strives to meet its ambitious targets, these measures offer a clear path forward. By addressing road user behaviour, enhancing regional safety education, and ensuring regular updates on road rules and crash data, the state can make significant strides towards safer roads for all.
The next steps will involve detailed investigation and implementation of these recommendations, aiming to create a safer driving environment in South Australia.
More News
