Road safety in Australia Chris Brooks Australian Transport Safety Bureau Road safety in Australia Chris Brooks Australian Transport Safety Bureau.

Road safety in Australia

Chris BrooksAustralian Transport Safety Bureau

Road safety in Australia

Chris BrooksAustralian Transport Safety Bureau

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

1966 1971 1976 1981 1986 1991 1996 2001

1970: 30.4

2001: 9.1

Road deaths Per 100,000 PopulationRoad deaths Per 100,000 Population

3

Road deaths per 100,000 population OECD and Australia

Road deaths per 100,000 population OECD and Australia

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

1975

198

0

198

5

199

0

1995

199

9

20

00

Ra

te

AustraliaOECD medianLowest OECD rate

Road fatalities per 100 000 population, Australia compared to the OECD, 1975 to 1999

4

Road deaths per 100,000 population OECD nations 1998

Road deaths per 100,000 population OECD nations 1998

0.0

5.0

10.0

15.0

20.0

25.0

5

Australia’s Challenges:Australia’s Challenges:

Large country, low population density Large cities, low population density

– Few taxpayers per kilometre of road– Cities separated by large distances– Difficult to achieve efficient public transport– High reliance on roads for goods transport– Large annual distances per person and per vehicle Perceived need for high speed limits

High rate of vehicle ownership Old vehicle fleet (average age > 10 years) High per-capita alcohol consumption.

Large country, low population density Large cities, low population density

– Few taxpayers per kilometre of road– Cities separated by large distances– Difficult to achieve efficient public transport– High reliance on roads for goods transport– Large annual distances per person and per vehicle Perceived need for high speed limits

High rate of vehicle ownership Old vehicle fleet (average age > 10 years) High per-capita alcohol consumption.

6

Australia’s advantages:Australia’s advantages:

Only moderate growth in vehicle usage (compared to some APEC economies)

Strong public support for strict regulation to improve road safety– eg: 98% support for Random Breath Testing.

Strong road safety research capacity Not many motorcycles (compared to some APEC

economies)

– 2.7% of vehicles– 0.6% of vehicle kilometres– 12.4% of road deaths

Only moderate growth in vehicle usage (compared to some APEC economies)

Strong public support for strict regulation to improve road safety– eg: 98% support for Random Breath Testing.

Strong road safety research capacity Not many motorcycles (compared to some APEC

economies)

– 2.7% of vehicles– 0.6% of vehicle kilometres– 12.4% of road deaths

7

Measures that have reduced road deaths:Measures that have reduced road deaths:

Seat belts – required in all new cars since 1969 (front seats;

front and rear since 1971)– compulsory use since 1972.

Random breath testing + publicity Speed cameras + publicity Helmets for cyclists and motorcyclists Road improvements -including “black spot”

programs (hazardous road locations) Safer vehicles: improved occupant protection

Seat belts – required in all new cars since 1969 (front seats;

front and rear since 1971)– compulsory use since 1972.

Random breath testing + publicity Speed cameras + publicity Helmets for cyclists and motorcyclists Road improvements -including “black spot”

programs (hazardous road locations) Safer vehicles: improved occupant protection

8

Road safety in Australia’s Federal systemRoad safety in Australia’s Federal system

Federal Government

State Governments

Local Governments

Non-Government agencies

Federal Government

State Governments

Local Governments

Non-Government agencies

9

Road safety in Australia’s Federal systemRoad safety in Australia’s Federal system

State Governments:

– Road funding

• (shared with Federal and local government)

– Road construction

– Road rules– Traffic police– Licensing drivers– Public education– Registration of vehicles – Research & statistics

State Governments:

– Road funding

• (shared with Federal and local government)

– Road construction

– Road rules– Traffic police– Licensing drivers– Public education– Registration of vehicles – Research & statistics

10

Road safety in Australia’s Federal systemRoad safety in Australia’s Federal system

Federal Government:

– Road funding

• major national roads (mainly inter-city)

• “black spots”

– New-vehicle standards

– Research & statistics

– National coordination

Federal Government:

– Road funding

• major national roads (mainly inter-city)

• “black spots”

– New-vehicle standards

– Research & statistics

– National coordination

11

Commonwealth-State CoordinationCommonwealth-State Coordination

Australian Transport Council (Ministers)

Austroads (roads and traffic agencies)

National Road Transport Commission

National Road Safety Strategy and Action Plans

Australian Transport Council (Ministers)

Austroads (roads and traffic agencies)

National Road Transport Commission

National Road Safety Strategy and Action Plans

12

National Road Safety Strategy and Action PlansNational Road Safety Strategy and Action Plans

13

National Road Safety Strategy 2001-2010National Road Safety Strategy 2001-2010

“The road toll should not be accepted as inevitable.”

“The priority given to road safety should reflect the high value that the community as a whole places on the preservation of human life and the prevention of serious injury.”

“The road toll should not be accepted as inevitable.”

“The priority given to road safety should reflect the high value that the community as a whole places on the preservation of human life and the prevention of serious injury.”

14

The target:The target:

40% reduction in population fatality rate by 2010

from 9.3 per 100,000 in 1999 to no more than 5.6 in 2010

(Endorsed by Federal, State and Territory Ministers at Australian Transport Council)

40% reduction in population fatality rate by 2010

from 9.3 per 100,000 in 1999 to no more than 5.6 in 2010

(Endorsed by Federal, State and Territory Ministers at Australian Transport Council)

15

Estimated effects of possible measuresEstimated effects of possible measures

16

Safer roads (19%)Safer roads (19%)

Building new, safer roads

Fixing hazardous locations– a small proportion of total road funding– but accounts for almost 1/3 of estimated safety

benefits

Building new, safer roads

Fixing hazardous locations– a small proportion of total road funding– but accounts for almost 1/3 of estimated safety

benefits

17

Safer vehicles (10%)Safer vehicles (10%)

Most of the predicted savings up to 2010 from vehicle improvements are from measures already implemented or scheduled

– continued flow of benefits as newer, safer vehicles replace older ones.

Most of the predicted savings up to 2010 from vehicle improvements are from measures already implemented or scheduled

– continued flow of benefits as newer, safer vehicles replace older ones.

18

Safer road user behaviour (9%)Safer road user behaviour (9%)

Enforcement and education programs targeting: – speeding– drink driving – seat belts.

Small additional reductions from improvements in driver licensing and training– focus on extensive on-road experience for learners.

Enforcement and education programs targeting: – speeding– drink driving – seat belts.

Small additional reductions from improvements in driver licensing and training– focus on extensive on-road experience for learners.

19

Estimated effects of possible measuresEstimated effects of possible measures

Road deaths per 100,000 population

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001

9.39.1

21

Possible problemsPossible problems

Vehicle use increasing faster than predicted.

Reduced enforcement impacts (drink driving, speed).

Increasing diversity of the vehicle fleet– more small cars, more big vehicles.

More motorcycle riders.

Economic factors.

Vehicle use increasing faster than predicted.

Reduced enforcement impacts (drink driving, speed).

Increasing diversity of the vehicle fleet– more small cars, more big vehicles.

More motorcycle riders.

Economic factors.

22

Possible solutions: areas of focusPossible solutions: areas of focus

Speed management

Safer roads

Impaired driving– alcohol– drugs– fatigue

Vehicles (including new technology)

Speed management

Safer roads

Impaired driving– alcohol– drugs– fatigue

Vehicles (including new technology)

23

Speed: research findingsSpeed: research findings Small changes in travel speed make a surprisingly

big difference to the risk of a serious crash – a speed increase of about 10% doubles the risk of a

casualty crash• 5 km/h in urban areas • 10 km/h in rural areas.

A uniform speed reduction of 5 km/h across the road network would cut casualty crashes by about one quarter (27%).

“Moderate” speeding (up to 10 km/h over limit) adds up to a big safety problem.

Relative Risk ofCrash Involvementfor Alcohol (RARU , 1980)

0.250.200.150.100.050.000

10

20

30

40

BAC (g/100mL)

(case-control study)

(RARU , 1980)

(RARU, 1997)

Relative Risk ofCrash Involvementfor Alcohol and Speed

(60 km/h zones)

0.250.200.150.100.050.000

10

20

30

40

BAC (g/100mL)

858075706560SPEED (km/h)

(case-control studies)

26

Comparing risks:alcohol and speed

60

7065

7580

85.00

.05.10 .15

.20

BAC

(in 60 km/h zones)

Speed (km/h)

27

Speed managementSpeed management

Speed limits Enforcement

– intensity– tolerances– penalties

Education / persuasion Traffic calming New technology (eg, Intelligent speed adaptation)

Speed limits Enforcement

– intensity– tolerances– penalties

Education / persuasion Traffic calming New technology (eg, Intelligent speed adaptation)

28

Speed cardSpeed card

29

Travel speed and impact speedTravel speed and impact speed

30

Speed messagesSpeed messages

“Every 10 km/h makes a difference”

“Wipe off five”

“Safe speeding: there is no such thing”

Advantages of lower limits on local streets

“Every 10 km/h makes a difference”

“Wipe off five”

“Safe speeding: there is no such thing”

Advantages of lower limits on local streets

31

Changing community attitudes to speedChanging community attitudes to speed

1995 2002

I (sometimes / always) drive 10 km/h over the limit 41% 29%

Police should tolerate 70 km/h in a 60 zone 26% 11%

An extra 10 km/h does not increase crash involvement

45% 32%

A crash is not much more severe at 70 than 60 20% 9%

National surveys:

32

Safer roadsSafer roads

Black Spot programs and “mass action” Treatments with a high safety benefit:

– fixing roadside hazards: • remove hazards or use barriers or replace rigid poles with

poles that bend or break

– shoulder sealing, audible edge lining, night-time delineation

– replace intersections by roundabouts

– traffic lights, including controlled right turns

– separation of road users - centre barriers, pedestrian precincts, bike tracks etc

Black Spot programs and “mass action” Treatments with a high safety benefit:

– fixing roadside hazards: • remove hazards or use barriers or replace rigid poles with

poles that bend or break

– shoulder sealing, audible edge lining, night-time delineation

– replace intersections by roundabouts

– traffic lights, including controlled right turns

– separation of road users - centre barriers, pedestrian precincts, bike tracks etc

33

Impaired drivingImpaired driving

Alcohol– random breath testing + publicity

– introducing vehicle interlock programs

– rehabilitation programs

Other drugs– alcohol test impairment assessment drug test

Fatigue– Truck drivers: legislation, training, “chain of

responsibility”

– Other drivers: education, safer roads, safer cars

34

VehiclesVehicles

On the agenda:

Alcohol interlocks

Seat belt warning devices

Promoting awareness of safety ratings

Encouraging voluntary uptake of Intelligent Speed Adaptation (eg fleet vehicles)

Truck under-run protection

Automatic crash notification systems

On the agenda:

Alcohol interlocks

Seat belt warning devices

Promoting awareness of safety ratings

Encouraging voluntary uptake of Intelligent Speed Adaptation (eg fleet vehicles)

Truck under-run protection

Automatic crash notification systems

35

APEC (RSEG) 12 major road safety problemsAPEC (RSEG) 12 major road safety problems

Accident data– 1. Best way to collect and share accident data.

Highway and traffic engineering– 2. Improve road network and traffic safety facilities– 3. Roadside cut slope management– 11. Accident black-spot approach to reduce accidents

Behaviour– 4. Speeding – 5. Impaired driving– 6. Vehicle overloading – 7. Seat belts and motorcycle helmets

Accident data– 1. Best way to collect and share accident data.

Highway and traffic engineering– 2. Improve road network and traffic safety facilities– 3. Roadside cut slope management– 11. Accident black-spot approach to reduce accidents

Behaviour– 4. Speeding – 5. Impaired driving– 6. Vehicle overloading – 7. Seat belts and motorcycle helmets

Australia:

Improving injury data

+ mass action

+ speed limits (including road improvements to reduce

fatigue risks) (looking at seatbelt reminder systems)

36

APEC (RSEG) 12 major road safety problems APEC (RSEG) 12 major road safety problems

Vulnerable groups– 8. Pedestrian safety– 9. Elderly people safety

Others– 10. Community approach– 12. Social awareness

Vulnerable groups– 8. Pedestrian safety– 9. Elderly people safety

Others– 10. Community approach– 12. Social awareness

Speed management, road environment are key areas

37