16 November 2011

A new road safety strategy

| johnboy
Join the conversation
36
screenshot

Simon Corbell has announced a new road safety strategy in pursuit of his vision zero.

Mr Corbell tabled the ACT Road Safety Strategy 2011-2020 and ACT Road Safety Action Plan 2011-2013 in the Legislative Assembly today.

“The strategy outlines the key goals for road safety in the ACT over the next 10 years, including a reduction in ACT road trauma of 30% to meet national road safety strategy objectives,” Mr Corbell said.

“Despite a generally good road safety record, each year an average of 14 people are killed and 565 people are injured on ACT roads.

“This strategy is influenced by the Swedish Government?s „Vision Zero? policy, which ultimately aims for no one being killed or seriously injured within the road transport system,” Mr Corbell said.

Until we all start doing an annual remedial driving lesson (needn’t be an exam, just an hour in the car driving around with an instructor) I can’t see anything seriously getting fixed.

UPDATE: We’ve now got a copy of the strategy for your perusal.

Join the conversation

36
All Comments
  • All Comments
  • Website Comments
LatestOldest
Holden Caulfield4:59 pm 16 Nov 11

Watson said :

And I meant to ask: what road rules have changed since you got your licence? And how often do you forget existing road rules? I just don’t get the testing for road rule knowledge… I think most people know the rules, they just choose to ignore them because they are either reckless or overcautious.

On the other hand, my mum lived in a small country town when she got her license. All she had to do was pay her 5 quid to the local coppers, who already thought she had a license, and she was on her way.

She’s never been tested. I’m sure there are countless others of her generation to have done the same.

longshanks said :

+1 to the above.

I always used to be in a rush behind the wheel. Thankfully I never had an accident, but I did have a couple of near misses which could have been bad. Then I lived in Europe for a number of years, drove lots of nice cars at ridiculously high speeds, until one day I was first on scene at a nasty accident – mangled wreck, mangled bodies, the works.

Nowadays, I’m the guy who sits on 98kmh in the left lane of the parkway, always leaving a 3 second gap to the car in front. If someone moves into that gap, I back off to maintain the gap. If the light goes orange, I stop if I can. I don’t waste time (I’m always looking at the traffic before I get to an intersection, unlike a lot of Canberra drivers it seems) but if I’m late I don’t try to make up time either. It just isn’t worth it.

I don’t talk on the phone, I don’t even listen to the radio. I don’t think about work, or about what I’m going to eat for dinner. I concentrate on the road, I observe, I anticipate. I’ve avoided countless collisions, including a few potential nasties, simply by being alert.

I’m not saying I’m perfect – we all make mistakes. But I’ve seen what damage a car can do to a human body, and I’m going to do my damnedest to make sure that I never cause an accident.

And I would be all for programs to get that message through to drivers, especially those under 30. Not sure if letting them talk to relatives of car crash victims or showing graphic images of crashes and the human damage would make a difference to drivers’ attitudes but if it does, they should fund it and make it mandatory for all drivers.

johnboy said :

It’s all going to be moot in a couple of years when the cars get fully automated and only holders of advanced licences are allowed to actually drive themselves.

Amen, I’m glad someone said it. 2015 according to Mercedes but it’ll be another 10 years for it to catch on, become affordable and governments to change legislation to allow it (already happening in the US). It’ll be brand new cars to start with and eventually a retro-fit to any car. Pretty much inevitable in the grand scheme of things.

As usual the governments will be the slow bit…until they work out a way to increase REVenue from it. Courts may also take some time to adjust (2 automated vehicles crash, who goes to gaol?)

Grail said :

Focussing on skills used inside the car is not going to lower the accident rate. What we need to focus on is reshaping the attitudes of people before they get in the car: you’re getting in the car to travel from here to there.

For example, you shouldn’t be driving if you’re worried about how late you are: accept the fact you’re late, ring ahead, drive safely. Once you’re behind the wheel of the car your only concern is getting to your destination safely. Time is irrelevant, you should have taken care of that before you got in the car.

You shouldn’t be driving if you view driving as a form of entertainment. Go to the fair ground and drive dodgems or karts if you’re after entertainment.

Once you take the controls of a motor vehicle, you are in control of a deadly instrument, not a toy.

+1 to the above.

I always used to be in a rush behind the wheel. Thankfully I never had an accident, but I did have a couple of near misses which could have been bad. Then I lived in Europe for a number of years, drove lots of nice cars at ridiculously high speeds, until one day I was first on scene at a nasty accident – mangled wreck, mangled bodies, the works.

Nowadays, I’m the guy who sits on 98kmh in the left lane of the parkway, always leaving a 3 second gap to the car in front. If someone moves into that gap, I back off to maintain the gap. If the light goes orange, I stop if I can. I don’t waste time (I’m always looking at the traffic before I get to an intersection, unlike a lot of Canberra drivers it seems) but if I’m late I don’t try to make up time either. It just isn’t worth it.

I don’t talk on the phone, I don’t even listen to the radio. I don’t think about work, or about what I’m going to eat for dinner. I concentrate on the road, I observe, I anticipate. I’ve avoided countless collisions, including a few potential nasties, simply by being alert.

I’m not saying I’m perfect – we all make mistakes. But I’ve seen what damage a car can do to a human body, and I’m going to do my damnedest to make sure that I never cause an accident.

Watson said :

And I meant to ask: what road rules have changed since you got your licence? And how often do you forget existing road rules? I just don’t get the testing for road rule knowledge… I think most people know the rules, they just choose to ignore them because they are either reckless or overcautious.

You’re assuming the test 40 years ago was actually useful in determining understanding of the road rules and correct driver skills. Seatbelts were not compulsory or even implemented in certain cars, mobile phones were not a problem, child restraint laws etc etc. Many people may have been brought up in a town that doesn’t have a roundabout, yet alone used one.

Watson said :

And I meant to ask: what road rules have changed since you got your licence? And how often do you forget existing road rules? I just don’t get the testing for road rule knowledge… I think most people know the rules, they just choose to ignore them because they are either reckless or overcautious.

And I reckon that those bad habits that initially grew out of recklessness or carelessnes would show up at least in practical tests.

Innovation said :

As well, P platers need to be better controlled. I suggest a speed limit that is 10km/h below the posted limit (for all limits above, say 20km/h). They still get to their destination and they will be in a better position to react in unpredictable and previously unexperienced situations..

I think you should speak to someone who displays their P plates prominently on their car. From my experience the plate invokes “instant rage” from surrounding motorists, even if you’re at the speed limit and driving normally. People will see the plates, speed to overtake, then cut you off in order to get in front. Driving 10km below the speed limit will make this worse. Perhaps you should try your P plate and 10km/hr suggestion during peak hour and report back.

Watson said :

And I meant to ask: what road rules have changed since you got your licence? And how often do you forget existing road rules? I just don’t get the testing for road rule knowledge… I think most people know the rules, they just choose to ignore them because they are either reckless or overcautious.

You only need to read through a thread about roads/road users/motorists/cyclists on RiotACT to see how few people really do know the rules.

And I meant to ask: what road rules have changed since you got your licence? And how often do you forget existing road rules? I just don’t get the testing for road rule knowledge… I think most people know the rules, they just choose to ignore them because they are either reckless or overcautious.

I hope that all of you (trollers excluded) are going to formally submit your ideas/suggestions rather than just listing them here? I did like the spike in lieu of an air bag idea though.

Personally, I like the idea of retesting at least every five years. They could even start out slow by requiring theory tests for the first five or ten years until everyone has got used to the idea.

I also like the idea of using the points system to punish people earlier (eg 1 week’s supension for one point etc). Another option might be to put those with multiple points (eg 6 or 9) on to P plates again until their points reduce below the limit.

As well, P platers need to be better controlled. I suggest a speed limit that is 10km/h below the posted limit (for all limits above, say 20km/h). They still get to their destination and they will be in a better position to react in unpredictable and previously unexperienced situations.

I was interested to read about the Police Office who was issuing too many on road offences. I understand that perhaps he was neglecting other duties but perhaps this means that we need an increased police presence on the roads. The infringements issued could pay for the extra police and the additional regular license tesing above.

Felix the Cat1:36 pm 16 Nov 11

Tolerance, paitence and consideration for other road users would go a long way to cutting down on “accidents”.

Martlark said :

Plenty of studies have shown that extra training don’t do much, and can even increase accident rates. .

You’re talking about advanced driver training like skid-pans. Not understand the road rules, working on skills like forward planning, head-checks, predicting traffic, having an escape, assessing risk etc etc

AAMI(?) were offering reduced rates if you take one of their free driving training courses, so they must think it has some (positive) effect.

Holden Caulfield said :

Advanced driver training need not mean how to drive fast on a track. In this context it should be about all aspects of driving, from attitude, to seating position, to anticipating traffic flow, to understanding emergency procedures and so on.

What if we rename advanced driver training as “improved driver education” would that make the doomsayers more comfortable?

I like this idea.

Personally i think we need to enforce driving as a privilege, not a right. Exponentially increase penalties for continual drink driving, red lights and speeding. Perhaps if you get 6 points in a quick succession, you have to retake the driving exam? Every year there could be a short 5 minute computer test on all the recent road rules, plus 1 or 2 random ones from the normal learner test.

We could also have a discount for drivers who report people for drink driving, or driving unlicensed. Say the cops catch up with that person, and it leads to a fine/conviction, the person who made the report gets 30% off their next license. It just amazes me that some people think its okay for unlicensed drivers to “just use the back streets”, or allow a family member who is legally blind to drive.

Thoroughly Smashed1:12 pm 16 Nov 11

A couple of years?!

Grail said :

You shouldn’t be driving if you view driving as a form of entertainment. Go to the fair ground and drive dodgems or karts if you’re after entertainment.

Whilst I agree about the basic premise that the driver should both be in the right frame of mind prior to driving and they need to have the right attitude towards driving prior to getting behind the wheel (see my comment about a ton of metal at 110km/h) I disagree that driving can not be a form of entertainment provided it’s done safely.

Give me one good reason why driving can not be a form of entertainment. A few years back I was part of a car club, one of our favourite things to do was go on drives.

We’d pick some out of the way roads and drive along it, it was a great way to see some countryside which we otherwise wouldn’t have seen.

It’s all going to be moot in a couple of years when the cars get fully automated and only holders of advanced licences are allowed to actually drive themselves.

Focussing on skills used inside the car is not going to lower the accident rate. What we need to focus on is reshaping the attitudes of people before they get in the car: you’re getting in the car to travel from here to there.

For example, you shouldn’t be driving if you’re worried about how late you are: accept the fact you’re late, ring ahead, drive safely. Once you’re behind the wheel of the car your only concern is getting to your destination safely. Time is irrelevant, you should have taken care of that before you got in the car.

You shouldn’t be driving if you view driving as a form of entertainment. Go to the fair ground and drive dodgems or karts if you’re after entertainment.

Once you take the controls of a motor vehicle, you are in control of a deadly instrument, not a toy.

For those going on about driver inexperience:
“Advice from ACT Policing is that the main causal factors for serious injury
and fatal road crashes in the ACT are:
– Alcohol and/or drugs
– Speeding
– Failure to wear a seat belt, and
– Driver distraction including mobile phones and other electronic devices.”

42% of fatalities are people under 30. I think this has all to do with the brain not maturing until the age of 25 and the increased risk taking that comes with that and much less to do with experience.

This is interesting too:
– 11% of all crashes are “single vehicle crashes” (indicative of driver error
or actions independent of the road system or other traffic)
– 45% of all crashes are “rear end collisions” (the most frequent crash
type), and
– 35% of all casualty crashes are “right angle collisions” (the most
frequent type in terms of severity).

And then for those who are quick to point out that the evil cyclists and pedestrians should share the blame:
In terms of road user casualties over the last five years:
– 68.5% were car drivers or passengers
– 15.3% were motorcycle riders or pillions
– 10.1% were bicycle riders, and
– 5.6% were pedestrians.

You gotta love stats!

And I think there are some useful points in that report. Their comments on the consultation outcomes in regards to speed are funny to read.

Some of their intentions regarding safer roads make sense.

And this gave me a chuckle: “calming treatments at signalised intersections to reduce speeds
and the impact energies involved in right angle crashes.”
WTF are ‘calming treatments’??? Will they be burning lavender oil and play soothing music?

It is light on detail, but they refer to the 2011-13 plan for more in depth strategy implementations.

Holden Caulfield12:22 pm 16 Nov 11

Many people keep saying studies show that advanced driver training could lead to over-confidence.

Hmm, that may be true, which comes back to the point you need the right attitude, which, obviously, could be discussed during any training courses.

Just out of interest, are there any studies that consider how appropriate our current driving education procedures are? Seeing as we keep getting bombarded by gory television commercials, speed cameras under the guise of road safety and “vision zero” policies I’m guessing the general consensus is that the current education standards and attitude of our road users is not up to scratch.

Despite what the studies say, perhaps a more practical approach might actually make a positive difference. Or is it just easier to throw it in the too hard basket, I mean, it will turn us all into maniacs.

Advanced driver training need not mean how to drive fast on a track. In this context it should be about all aspects of driving, from attitude, to seating position, to anticipating traffic flow, to understanding emergency procedures and so on.

What if we rename advanced driver training as “improved driver education” would that make the doomsayers more comfortable?

colourful sydney racing identity12:13 pm 16 Nov 11

Martlark said :

harvyk1 said :

You don’t really believe that crap do you?…… Which is true, except when something goes wrong, such as a kid runs out onto the road or the wheels lose grip in the wet which can happen just by going over a slight hill.

My dear departed father undertook a study to determine if advanced driver training could reduce the accident rates by drivers in his government department. After reviewing most of the research he found that it actually increased accident rates. The reason was the increase in confidence and subsequent increase in risk taking and margin shaving was far greater than the increase in skill at avoiding accidents.

I believe.

Care to share the study with us?

I couldn’t read anything specific about what they were going to actually do.

Solidarity said :

That’s another issue, people relying on the car to save them.

Take every car, and replce the airbag with a giant spike.

I bet that’ll make people drive more carefully.

Can’t argue with that…

Of course the other problem is that a person who is used to traction control, ABS, ESP, and a whole lot of other things has had the belief in their skills artificially boosted. When you reach the limits in a modern car you’re travelling a lot faster.

I remember one of my old cars, you go around a corner with the throttle wide open (at virtually any speed) and the back would slide out from under you at quite a slow speed (although it seemed pretty fast if you weren’t expecting it to happen). You quickly learnt to control exactly how much throttle to use and the speeds which you did around corners. In my current car on the other hand traction control is likely to kick in and bring the back of the car back into line, and then keep allowing enough power to speed the car up around the corner. I would imagine that if I hit the limit of what traction control (and the tyres) could do I would be travelling at a very high speed.

Admittedly it would probably also be an illegal on any road type speed as well, but not everyone who has a car keeps to the posted speed limits.

Martlark said :

harvyk1 said :

You don’t really believe that crap do you?…… Which is true, except when something goes wrong, such as a kid runs out onto the road or the wheels lose grip in the wet which can happen just by going over a slight hill.

My dear departed father undertook a study to determine if advanced driver training could reduce the accident rates by drivers in his government department. After reviewing most of the research he found that it actually increased accident rates. The reason was the increase in confidence and subsequent increase in risk taking and margin shaving was far greater than the increase in skill at avoiding accidents.

I believe.

That may be true for advanced training, but its also clearly obvious, many people need a brush up on the basics of driving. Things like merging and indicating at roundabouts spring to mind. I don’t think advanced traing is really necessary, however retesting or at least a brush up training course is needed. Also it wouldn’t hurt putting people through simulations regarding things like using a mobile phone while driving and see if they really can text and pay attention 🙂

I witnessed a collision yesterday on the monaro, the woman in front just did not brake, or braked quite late as she was precoccupied. She was lucky to be moving at 30-40kmh, but the front of her car was crumpled completely.

Most serious road accidents are caused by morons driving like f***ing maniacs. Until we can we work out a way to stop people driving aggressively, to stop driving at twice the speed limit and to stop getting behind the wheel after consuming 12 beers, we aren’t going to change a thing.

harvyk1 said :

The second thing is a younger person is more likely to drive an older car with no so good brakes \ steering \ or suspension. I don’t know how well you finances where at even 20, but mine where not so good and thus affording a good quality car with all the current safety features which my current car has was right out of the question..

That’s another issue, people relying on the car to save them.

Take every car, and replce the airbag with a giant spike.

I bet that’ll make people drive more carefully.

Martlark said :

Well that report (good on google docs) was full of plenty of motherhood waffle and zero specific initiatives.

One suggestion that would be cost free:

Increasing the P plate driving age to 20 would reduce causalities by about 100 per year.

and removing all drivers off the roads would reduce causalities by 100 percent.
There are two reasons why the road toll is higher amoungst young people, the first is their inexperience, that will not change, a person who has only being driving for 6 months is inexperienced no matter if that person is 18 or 45.

The second thing is a younger person is more likely to drive an older car with no so good brakes \ steering \ or suspension. I don’t know how well you finances where at even 20, but mine where not so good and thus affording a good quality car with all the current safety features which my current car has was right out of the question.

There needs to be some common sense employed into the debate. What I would love to see is the current emphasis towards fining drivers who do 84km/h in an 80km/h zone reduced, and the emphasis moved towards finding drivers who do overtakes around blind corners whilst doing 130km/h (when it’s a 90km/h zone).

The other thing I’d like to see is getting rid of the points system and start instant license suspension for a period of time (eg change the wording of points to weeks in the laws, thus a 1 point fine becomes a 1 week suspension). The argument of “that’s not fair, how do I get to \ from work” etc should not come into it as it’s also really hard to get to \ from work directly after you’ve wrapped your car around a tree.

The question could then be asked what if someone is caught driving during their suspension, and the answer would be removal of the car until the suspension ends.

Martlark said :

The #1 factor in road accidents is attitude. Not much skill is required to drive safely.

Ahem.

Not much skill to drive safely?

That my friends is the EXACT problem with attitude on the roads.

Driving isn’t seen as a skill anymore.

Many people have no interest in driving, and when you have no interest in something, you’re usually s*** at it.

I reckon the best thing in regards to skills would be:

1) Everyone before getting thier car L’s must pass thier motorbike L’s
2) No automatic cars for P Platers
3) Retesting every 5 years when your license is renewed

Well that report (good on google docs) was full of plenty of motherhood waffle and zero specific initiatives.

One suggestion that would be cost free:

Increasing the P plate driving age to 20 would reduce causalities by about 100 per year.

I am dumbfounded as to why they don’t implement a ‘power-to-weight’ ratio for learner/P-plate drivers like they do on motorbikes.

Martlark said :

My dear departed father undertook a study to determine if advanced driver training could reduce the accident rates by drivers in his government department. After reviewing most of the research he found that it actually increased accident rates. The reason was the increase in confidence and subsequent increase in risk taking and margin shaving was far greater than the increase in skill at avoiding accidents.

I believe.

and again you missed your very first point, “The #1 factor in road accidents is attitude.” There is a proportion of the community who don’t think that even the smallest underpowered s***box is still nearly a ton of metal hurtling along a road at 110km/h.

It’s true, driver training does increase the bravery factor in some people, but chances are those people where already going to push the limits of their car and their own skills regardless of training, and for those people advance driver training simply = day on the skidpan (and considering their personalities they are all too eager to spend a day on the skidpan)…

Mr Gillespie10:25 am 16 Nov 11

Nice to see Mr Idealist Corbell spending our money wisely again. Pity this dream is as futile as chasing the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow!!

harvyk1 said :

You don’t really believe that crap do you?…… Which is true, except when something goes wrong, such as a kid runs out onto the road or the wheels lose grip in the wet which can happen just by going over a slight hill.

My dear departed father undertook a study to determine if advanced driver training could reduce the accident rates by drivers in his government department. After reviewing most of the research he found that it actually increased accident rates. The reason was the increase in confidence and subsequent increase in risk taking and margin shaving was far greater than the increase in skill at avoiding accidents.

I believe.

Martlark said :

The #1 factor in road accidents is attitude.

Won’t disagree there…

Martlark said :

Not much skill is required to drive safely. Plenty of studies have shown that extra training don’t do much, and can even increase accident rates.

You don’t really believe that crap do you? Sure some people do advance driver training and then go out and act like idiots on the road, but here is the thing, they where going to act like idiots anyway and goes directly to the first point you made.

One of the big problems on our roads is that real knowledge of car control is non-existant. The level of driver training is limited to “press the right pedal and the car speeds up, press the left pedal and the car slows down, and turn the steering wheel in the direction you want to go”. Which is true, except when something goes wrong, such as a kid runs out onto the road or the wheels lose grip in the wet which can happen just by going over a slight hill.

Only way we’re going to achieve it is to reintroduce the The Locomotive Act 1865: a speed limit of 4 mph and a man with a red flag walking 60 yards ahead of each vehicle.

Driver training isn’t the only thing you’d need as the road toll also includes pedestrians and cyclists. Re-education for everyone on looking left-and-right?

Anyway, as the road toll in Canberra so far this year is 6 so long as there aren’t too many wet days we’ll make the 2020 target this year.

Oh geez… “implement components of the national “safe system” approach, particularly in relation to speed management and infrastructure”.

I really hope that’s not what I think it is.

The #1 factor in road accidents is attitude. Not much skill is required to drive safely. Plenty of studies have shown that extra training don’t do much, and can even increase accident rates. That’s shown by L plate drivers having the lowest accident, and the same P plate drivers, a few months later on, having the worst record.

Holden Caulfield4:47 pm 15 Nov 11

“Until we all start doing an annual remedial driving lesson (needn’t be an exam, just an hour in the car driving around with an instructor) I can’t see anything seriously getting fixed.”

I tend to agree. Pretty amazing you can go from 16/17-80+ without needing to be retested. How many road rules do you reckon have changed in the last 60-odd years!

Not to mention the benefit that could be gained from professional driver training, especially as new and modern driver aids become the norm (ABS, stability control, etc).

Seriously, get out to Fifth Gear Motorsport at Sutton Driver Training, speak to Dereck and do whatever course he recommends.

Personally, I recommend the skid pan. Fun and educational!

Daily Digest

Want the best Canberra news delivered daily? Every day we package the most popular Riotact stories and send them straight to your inbox. Sign-up now for trusted local news that will never be behind a paywall.

By submitting your email address you are agreeing to Region Group's terms and conditions and privacy policy.