Independent vehicle safety authority ANCAP has welcomed Australian Government’s Inquiry into the effectiveness of the National Road Safety Strategy.
According to federal minister for infrastructure and transport Darren Chester the aim of the inquiry is to develop a blueprint to reduce deaths and serious injuries on the nation's roads.
Chester has commissioned an inquiry into improving the effectiveness of the National Road Safety Strategy 2011–2020 amid fears that many in the community have become too complacent about road safety.
ANCAP CEO James Goodwin said the authority looked forward to participating in the event, noting the recent developments in vehicle technology.
“Much has been done to improve road safety over the past seven years of the Strategy but there is still much more to be done and it’s encouraging to see the Government take an active step to focus efforts.”
“The rising road toll is a concern and vehicle safety needs to be a key focus.”
“New vehicles entering the Australian fleet are the safest they’ve ever been, but we must also consider the entire vehicle fleet,” Mr Goodwin said.
“ANCAP analysis shows that the average age of a car on the road is 9.8 years yet the average age of a vehicle involved in a fatal crash is 12.9 years. In just one year, this has increased from an average of 12.5 years so it’s clear we must also consider the older vehicles in the fleet as a means to improve road safety.”
Chester said he worried that motorists were too accepting of the fact that 1300 Australians will die on our roads and tens of thousands will be injured this year.
“Road trauma has an enormous social impact and in economic terms, road injury costs our nation an estimated $30 billion per year. I don't accept that as a price we have to pay for a modern transport system.
"The re-evaluation of the existing strategy is about setting the national agenda for years to come.
“After decades of reductions in road trauma, we have experienced a spike in several states in recent years and it's timely to review the national strategy, in partnership with the state government and the community.”