From the President

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PRESIDENT Kathryn Westwood VICE PRESIDENT Peter Dixon BOARD Peter Joyce Josephine Archer Phil Jones Jude Franks Jenny Richardson Sue Smith Risden Knightley Pieter Kolkert Alison Flakemore Ralph Doedens GROUP CEO Mark Mugnaioni HEAD OFFICE/HOBART BRANCH 179-191 Murray Street, Hobart Ph: (03) 6232 6300 Fax: (03) 6234 8784 OTHER BRANCHES Cruise Travel Centre, Hobart, 1/110 Collins Street (03) 6222 9222 Launceston, Cnr York & George Streets (03) 6335 5633 Devonport, 68 Rooke Street Mall (03) 6421 1933 Ulverstone (Travel only), 38 Reibey Street (03) 6490 8350 Burnie, 24 North Terrace (03) 6434 2933 Rosny Park, 2 Bayfield Street (03) 6212 6755 Glenorchy, Cnr Main Road & Terry Street (03) 6212 9588 Kingston, Shop 60 Channel Court (03) 6242 3200 AUTOSERVE 136 Harrington St, Hobart 85 Cimitiere St, Launceston EDITORIAL Zoe Cooney GPO Box 1292, Hobart 7001 Email: journeys@ract.com.au Ph: (03) 6236 4347 ADVERTISING Stacey Pennicott, 0400 618 159 Travel: Christine Benbow, 0419 886 549 PUBLISHED BI-MONTHLY BY The Royal Automobile Club of Tasmania Limited ABN 62 009 475 861 Every effort is made to ensure the authenticity of advertisements including product testing where practicable. However, publication of an advertisement does not imply that the product or service carries the recommendation of RACT. If you wish to unsubscribe from Journeys, please contact the RACT on 13 27 22, email journeys@ract.com.au, or visit ract.com.au/membership/ manage-your-membership *Competition terms and conditions: ract.com.au/membership/journeys No part of Journeys may be reproduced without permission. Copyright 2020 RACT DESIGN & PRODUCTION: Digital Ink PRINTING: Ovato MAILHOUSE: D&D Mailing Services DISTRIBUTION: Australia Post ISSN 0818-5549 200214

Kathryn Westwood

Iam concerned about the lack of progress on measures to reduce the number of deaths and serious injuries on our roads, particularly in light of a horror start to the year in Tasmania.

In the first two months of this year, to 6 March, there were 14 deaths on our roads, compared to six for the same period last year. This was the largest increase in any state or territory during this time. Despite a significant decrease in travel and vehicle usage since March due to COVID-19, we still remain ahead of last year with a total number of 17 fatalities for the period January to May 2020 compared to 15 for the same time period in 2019.

These latest figures come on top of the road toll for 2019, when 32 people died on Tasmania’s roads, compounded by an escalating injury rate.

We are nowhere near meeting the targets of the National Road Safety Strategy (NRSS) – signed on to by the Tasmanian and all other state and territory governments in 2011.

Why isn’t the message getting through? What more should the government be doing to reduce the toll?

In September last year, the Australian Automobile Association (AAA), of which RACT is a member, released its Reviving Road Safety report. This document was prepared in consultation with road safety experts from a wide range of backgrounds, including health, transport and emergency service groups.

On the back of the Australian Government’s own Inquiry into the NRSS that found ‘the Australian Government has not provided sufficiently strong leadership, coordination or advocacy on road safety to drive national trauma reductions’, Reviving Road Safety identifies the priority road safety actions that the Australian Government can take to make the nation’s roads safer.

These include:

Develop a national road safety data hub

Robust data must be used to inform road safety interventions and this data must underpin measurable targets, transparent reporting and real accountability.

Link federal infrastructure funding to road safety outcomes

There must be accountability for responsible use of federal infrastructure funding, including reporting and monitoring of postconstruction road safety performance by state and territory governments.

Enhance vehicle safety standards and encourage uptake of safer vehicles

Setting targets and programs to reduce the average age of Australia’s vehicle fleet – so that unsafe older vehicles are replaced – as well as initiatives that drive progress towards these targets.

Assign the Office of Road Safety a leadership role and genuine authority

A whole-of-government approach to road safety is needed, fostering communication and collaboration between departments, statutory authorities and jurisdictions to deliver better, more cost-effective outcomes.

As auto clubs, we believe the federal Office of Road Safety is best-placed to drive these initiatives.

However, to date, we have seen limited progress, even on the programs announced and funded in the last Federal Budget.

Many of the concerns raised in the Inquiry into the NRSS, released in September 2018, remain unresolved.

So, with our death toll spiralling and no clear outcomes in sight, what do we do?

We stand up. We speak up. And we demand more from the government to address this issue.

ARE YOU SATISFIED THAT THE GOVERNMENT IS DOING ENOUGH TO ADDRESS ROAD SAFETY? TELL US AT HUB.RACT.COM.AU