National road safety strategy

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The National Road Safety Strategy 2001-2010 aims to reduce the national road toll and increase the safety of all road users.

More specifically, the Strategy aims to save the lives of more than 700 Australians each year - an estimated 3500 lives by 2010.

National objectives have been set on the most effective ways of doing this and the three levels of government – Federal, State and Territory, and Local Governments are working together on action plans to achieve them.

National Road Safety Strategy 2001-2010
In November 2000 the Australian Transport Council developed the National Road Safety Strategy 2001-2010 with the aim of safe road use for the whole community. The Council is made up of Federal, State and Territory Transport Ministers and includes representatives from Local Government.

The Strategy’s target is to reduce the number of people killed on Australian roads by 40% - from 9.3 people per 100 000 in 1999 to no more than 5.6 in 2010.

The Strategy provides the framework for coordinating and building on the road safety strategies of State, Territory and Local Governments.

How will it reduce the death rate?

The strategic objectives of the national plan are to:

• Improve road user behaviour
• Improve the safety of roads
• Improve vehicle compatibility and occupant protection
• Use new technology to reduce human error
• Improve equity among road users
• Improve trauma, medical and retrieval services
• Improve road safety policy and programs through research of safety outcomes
• Encourage alternatives to motor vehicle use.

Action plans
Current State Government action plans focus on:

• speed management
• improving engineering measures to increase the safety of roads
• improving vehicle safety.

While other areas have also been identified, States and Territories determine what mix of measures will be most effective for local issues and priorities.

The Roles of State and Federal Government
The role of the Federal Government includes funding major road programs and treating ‘black spots’, regulating new vehicle standards, research, compilation and analysis of national statistics and promoting the sharing of road safety information and ideas.

Most road safety policies and strategies are developed by the States, Territories and Local Governments. Under the National Road Safety Strategy, each state establishes annual Action plans and reports on their progress to the national Australian Transport Council.

Links
The National Road Safety Strategy (204 kb)
National Road Safety Action Plan for 2003 and 2004 (194 kb)
Department of Transport and Regional Services