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ACRS Patron: His Excellency General the Honourable Sir Peter Cosgrove AK MC
Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia
Joint AAA ANCAP ACRS Press Release
17 July 2016
Road deaths rising:
URGENT NEED FOR PM TURNBULL TO APPOINT
DEDICATED ROAD SAFETY MINISTER
Australia’s peak motoring, road and vehicle safety organisations are calling on the Prime Minister to appoint a dedicated Road Safety Minister. It comes in the wake of statistics which show ten percent more Australians died this year than the same period in 2015, confirming an alarming trend of increased deaths after 2014.
The Australian Automobile Association (AAA), the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP), and the Australasian College of Road Safety (ACRS) have taken the unprecedented step of joining together to ask the re-elected Prime Minister to appoint a dedicated Road Safety Minister.
Figures released from the Bureau of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Economics (BITRE) show in the year to June 2016, there have been 643 deaths - 63 more than the same period last year. Road deaths in 2015 were also up by 56 over 2014 figures.
Figure 1: National Snapshot June 2016
Australia's progress against the National Road Safety Strategy 2011-2020
AAA Chief Executive Michael Bradley said the case for a dedicated Minister is clear.
“Australia’s National Road Safety Strategy, signed by all Australian governments, aims to reduce the number of road deaths and trauma by 30 per cent between 2010 and 2020,” Mr Bradley said.
“Clearly we are heading in the wrong direction and there is the need for the Federal Government to lead in the development of policies to deliver safer drivers, safer cars, and safer roads.”
A dedicated Minister for Road Safety is not a new concept, but it is one which cannot be ignored any longer if Australia is to regain the momentum of two years ago in reducing the needless loss of life on our roads.
James Goodwin, Chief Executive Officer of ANCAP, said while the implementation of road safety initiatives is multi-jurisdictional, the latest road death figures underscore the necessity for overarching leadership.
“Vehicle safety is a vital element of the road safety solution and we need national leadership across all areas of road safety if we are to see a reversal in the number of lives lost on our roads,” Mr Goodwin said.
Lauchlan McIntosh AM, President of the Australasian College of Road Safety, said although road safety is largely a matter for state governments, it needs national leadership and responsibility.
“Aside from the very personal impact road trauma has on families and first responders, it is estimated to cost the national economy more than $27 billion per year,” Mr McIntosh said.
“This is a national social and economic crisis which requires a cooperative effort from all governments under strong national leadership.”
The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare says land transport crashes are the number one killer for children up to 14 years, the second biggest killer of those aged 15 to 24 and the third biggest killer of 25 to 44 year olds.
Ends
About the Australasian College of Road Safety (ACRS): The Australasian College of Road Safety (ACRS) is the region’s peak membership association for road safety professionals, advocates, and members of the public who are focused on saving lives and serious injuries on our roads. The College provides a rich, collaborative environment promoting communication, networking, professionalism & advocacy across all spheres of road safety – including policy, advocacy, research, application & dissemination. ACRS membership includes experts from across all areas of road safety: policy makers, academics, community organisations, researchers, federal, state and local government agencies, private companies and members of the public. (www.acrs.org.au)
About the Australian Automobile Association(AAA): The AAA is the peak organisation representing Australia’s motoring clubs, with a combined membership of seven million Australians. The AAA aims to represent and advance the interests of the constituent motoring clubs and their members to the Australian Government and other national and international stakeholders.
(www.aaa.asn.au)
About the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP): The Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) is Australasia's leading independent vehicle safety advocate. ANCAP provides consumers with transparent advice and information on the level of occupant and pedestrian protection provided by different vehicle models in the most common types of crashes, as well as their ability - through technology - to avoid a crash.
(www.ancap.com.au)
Sources:
- Road Deaths Australia Monthly Bulletin June 2016: BITRE, Federal Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development
- National Road Safety Strategy 2011-2020: Australian Transport Council (2011).
Contacts:
- Lauchlan McIntosh, ACRS National President - Mobile: 0418 424 886
- Claire Howe, Executive Officer, ACRS - Mobile: 0402 418 123
- Nick Tyrrell, Director - External Affairs, AAA Mobile: 0438 987 845
- Rhianne Robson, Communications Manager, ANCAP Mobile: 0408 296 550
Further Details:
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