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Road safety submission - Towards zero

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RAC's comments on Towards Zero Discussion Paper on

Road Safety Strategy for WA 2008-2020

1. Background

The discussion paper Towards Zero sets out the broad framework for the new Road Safety Strategy for Western Australia 2008-2020. The strategy uses four cornerstones based on a Safe System approach:

• Safe Road Use (behaviour)
• Safe Roads and Roadsides
• Safe Speeds (through Speed Reduction and Enhanced Enforcement)
• Safe Vehicles

The guiding principles of the Safe System are:

• The limits of human performance - we all make mistakes
• The physical limits of human tolerance to violent forces e.g. when involved in a traffic crash.
• Shared responsibility
• A forgiving road system - deaths can be avoided and injuries minimised when crashes do happen.

Monash University Accident Research Centre (MUARC) provided the expert support to the Road Safety Council (RSC) in development of the proposed strategy. They have provided an estimate of the benefits and costs from a range of strategies fully implemented to improve road safety in WA:

This approach generally fits with that advocated by the RAC, however there is some concern with directions proposed in the category of Speed Reduction that does not meet the RAC's public policy.

In addition, MUARC noted that the current Arriving Safely strategy 2003-07 is not on-track to meet the identified targets because of several implementation problems. These must be addressed in the new strategy.

The discussion paper proposes a number of possible initiatives under each of the four cornerstones and differentiates where those initiatives are likely to differ when applied to the whole of the state, the Perth metropolitan area, regional WA or remote areas.  The RAC's comments follow.

2. Safe road use

The RAC supports the following in respect to MUARC's proposals for Safe Road Use (as underlined) with our comments listed (in italics) for some items:

All of WA

Combine behaviour programs to make them more powerful: alcohol and drug driving, fatigue, novice driver training and licensing and speed choice

Improved enforcement

• Better enforcement - particularly of existing speed limits, driving whilst impaired by alcohol or drugs, or driving without a valid drivers licence

Continue to monitor and implement proven initiatives to improve road user behaviour

Metro Perth

Specific programs focusing on driver distractions

• Driver distraction is difficult to quantify but may be a significant contributing factor in crashes, and so should be investigated and appropriate programs implemented.

Regional WA

Specific programs focusing on novice driver training and licensing, restraint use and unlicensed driving

• Programs for novice driver training and licensing in regional areas should be appropriately resourced

Remote WA

Same as regional WA, plus travel in vehicle load spaces

3. Safe roads and roadsides

The RAC supports the following in respect to MUARC's proposals for Safe Roads & Roadsides (as underlined), with our comments listed (in italics) for some items:

All of WA

Ongoing accident black spot and safer roads program

Traffic calming to protect pedestrians and additional shared paths

Metro Perth

Safe system intersection improvements (roundabouts, bridges, fully-controlled right turn signals, red light and speed cameras)

• Road improvements should target high-risk sites

Development of new barriers for urban applications (around trees and alfresco dining areas)

Regional WA

Research into ‘Intelligent Transport System' elements such as intersection collision detection systems

Measures to prevent run-off-road crashes (barriers, rumble strips, wide shoulders)

Safe system improvement of strategic routes from metro Perth

Remote WA

Research into ‘Intelligent Transport System' elements such as intersection collision detection systems

Safe system improvement of strategic routes around remote centres

Separation of pedestrians from traffic

Lighting and path definition around indigenous communities

4. Safe speeds

The RAC supports only some of MUARC's proposals for Safe Speeds (as underlined) with our comments listed (in italics):

All of WA

Improved speed enforcement (including speed cameras)

• Better enforcement of existing speed limits
• Review effectiveness of existing speed camera program in reducing crashes before any expansion involving the use of more mobile speed cameras and use of fixed speed cameras
• Trials of dual-purpose speed & red light cameras at high-risk intersections and point-to-point enforcement technology to check speeds on long sections of risky rural & remote highways
• Make it easier for motorists to comply with speed limits e.g.

o improved signage,
o more repeater signs,
o markings or rumble strips on road surface at change of speed limits,
o better identification of school zones & when they are in operation,
o use of vehicle speed feedback technology (e.g. on freeway over-passes & SAM alert trailers on urban roads & in towns),
o Intelligent Speed Adaptation (ISA) trial and rollout in vehicle fleets,
o changes to roads & roadside environment in high-risk areas to encourage drivers to slow down.

Metro Perth

Rezoning of 60km/h to 50 km/h

• No blanket speed limit reductions from 60km/h to 50km/h

Rezone Perth CBD and suburban strip shopping centres to 40 or 30 km/h

• Targeted reduction to 40 km/h in exceptional circumstances e.g. where there is a high crash risk such as at local shopping precincts.

More consistent speed limits

• More consistent speed limits to enable motorists to confidently anticipate the speed limit
• Trial of variable speed limits for safety & traffic management benefits e.g. on freeways according to traffic volume and weather conditions.

Regional WA

Reduce speed limits by 10km/h, reinstating once safer roads are in place

• No blanket reductions in speed limits
• Targeted reductions in exceptional circumstances e.g. where there is a high crash risk such as at local shopping precincts in townships or limited sections of 2 star safety rated roads.

More consistent speed limits

• More consistent speed limits to enable motorists to confidently anticipate the speed limit

Remote WA

As in regional plus lower speeds in towns and indigenous communities

• No blanket reductions in speed limits
• Targeted reduction in exceptional circumstances e.g. where there is a high crash risk such as at local shopping precincts in townships or limited sections of 2 star safety rated roads.

5. Safe vehicles

The RAC supports the following in respect to MUARC's proposals for Safe Vehicles (as underlined):

All of WA

Safety features such as side and curtain airbags, active head restraints, ESC and ISA made compulsory for government vehicles

Promotion of community take-up of these safety features and seatbelt reminders and interlocks

Ongoing research and development program to identify and progress future opportunities (improved alcohol interlocks, fatigue warning systems and safety based route navigation)

Metro Perth

As for all of WA

Regional WA

Promotion of ESC for 4WD and heavy vehicles

Remote WA

As in Regional WA

6. Conclusion

The RAC supports the general approach proposed by MUARC in development of the new road safety strategy for WA 2008-2020. However, there are some areas which require consideration in developing the new strategy:

• Funding and support from government agencies and government commitment to the strategy are fundamental in achieving the projected safety targets.

• The strategy is over a long 12 year period.  We understand 3 year Action Plans will be developed to support the strategy but it is important that these plans have clear actions, timeframes and accountability.  Further, their implementation must be monitored and reviewed.

• Poor implementation of the current road safety strategy ‘Arriving Safely' has prevented the achievement of the road safety targets for 2007 and implementation must be improved in the rollout of the new strategy.   In parallel with the development of the strategy itself, the RAC is pursuing with government changes to the strategy support structure so that we can gain greater commitment at the ministerial, agency CEO, Road Safety Council and agency levels.

• Emphasis in the Safe Speeds component of the strategy should be on Enhanced Enforcement rather than Speed Reduction through blanket speed limit reductions.