Report on the inquiry into road safety

The Parliament of Australia Joint Select Committee on Road Safety has tabled the final report for its inquiry into Road Safety.
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The report examines factors contributing to fatal and serious injuries on Australian roads and considers opportunities to improve road safety outcomes through measures which: 

• support the design, construction, and maintenance of high-quality road infrastructure that minimises the likelihood and severity of road crashes; 
• encourage the uptake of modern vehicles fitted with proven safety features; 
• effectively manage speeds to safe levels and deter unsafe behaviours;

• ensure all road users are equipped with the knowledge and skills to identify and respond appropriately to road safety risks; 
  
• embed road safety as part of ‘business as usual’ in public and private sector organisations; 
• promote safety for gig economy participants who use the road as a workplace; 
• enhance road safety in the heavy vehicle sector; and 
• contribute to effective post-crash response and trauma support. 

The report also identifies a need for effective leadership and oversight in relation to road safety at the national level, noting that efforts to improve road safety in the past have been stymied by poor governance, a lack of clearly defined responsibilities for reducing road trauma, and failures to report progress towards set targets in a meaningful way.

In addition, the report highlights the importance of high-quality research and reliable, accurate data to understand the road safety environment and the design, implementation, and evaluation of innovative measures to improve road safety outcomes.

The report includes 61 recommendations relating to these matters.

Committee Chair, the Hon Darren Chester MP, said that “road trauma touches the lives of all Australians, whether as victims of a road crash or as family members, friends, first responders, or members of the wider community.”

“The committee’s report outlines a series of measures that may be taken to improve road safety in the short term, while also highlighting some of the steps that should be taken if we are to achieve sustainable reductions in road trauma into the future,” he added.

Mr Chester also stated that “while the committee’s report outlines several areas where road safety can be enhanced, what is crucial is that governments at all levels take responsibility for reducing fatal and serious injuries on our roads, including implementing as a matter of urgency recommendations of this and other inquiries.”