The Joint Select Committee on Road Safety today tabled the final report for its Inquiry into Road Safety.

Media release issue date: Monday, 28 March 2022

The Joint Select Committee on Road Safety today tabled the final report for its Inquiry into Road Safety. 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 understanding the road safety environment and to 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 causes of road trauma are complex and demand innovative solutions supported by strong leadership, reliable, accurate data, and high-quality research. 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’. 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. As this report coincides with the federal Budget, the committee also calls on the Government to invest in safety for all Australians by committing sustainable funding to measures which reduce deaths and serious injuries on our roads’. The committee thanks all who contributed to the inquiry by lodging submissions, giving their time to provide evidence at hearings, providing additional information, or expressing views via correspondence. The report is available on the committee’s website. Media inquiries The Hon Darren Chester MP, Committee Chair Electorate: (03) 5144 6744 Parliament: (02) 6277 4728 For background information Committee Secretariat Parliament: 02 6277 4707 Road.Safety.reps@aph.gov.au For more information about this Committee, you can visit its website. On the site, you can make a submission to an inquiry, read other submissions, and get details for upcoming public hearings. You can also track the Committee and receive email updates by clicking on the blue ‘Track Committee’ button in the bottom right-hand corner of the page.

The Joint Select Committee on Road Safety will hold a final public hearing for its inquiry into Road Safety on 14 December 2021.

Media release issue date: Monday, 13 December 2021

The Joint Select Committee on Road Safety will hold a final public hearing for its inquiry into Road Safety on 14 December 2021. The hearing will be an opportunity for the committee to pose additional questions to Commonwealth agencies—in particular the Office of Road Safety—about the progress of road safety measures and issues raised by stakeholders during the committee’s other public hearings. The committee will also have the opportunity to hear from State Governments about road safety issues and solutions at the State level, and from Australia Post about the road safety issues facing Australia’s postal and courier services. Committee Chair, the Hon Darren Chester MP, said that ‘according to many accounts, the Office of Road Safety has done a commendable job developing and implementing measures to enhance road safety in Australia. However, stakeholders have also indicated that achieving Australia’s ambitious road safety targets requires more effective national leadership. The committee has heard that the Office, and the Commonwealth more generally, may be falling short in certain areas—in particular the collection and sharing of data, the allocation of funding, and encouraging the uptake of proven safety technologies’. ‘The committee will seek further information from the Commonwealth on how it proposes to address perceived deficiencies in road safety policies and programs, and on steps that may be taken to better position the Commonwealth to improve road safety at the national level’. Public hearing details Date:               Tuesday, 14 December 2021 Time:               12.45pm to 4.30pm Witnesses:      Australia Post Department of Transport and Main Roads (Queensland) Department of Transport (Victoria) Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications Office of Road Safety Programs for the hearings are available on the committee’s website. Due to health and safety concerns relating to the COVID-19 pandemic, the hearings will not be open for public attendance. However, interested members of the public will be able to view proceedings via the live webcast ataph.gov.au/live Media inquiries The Hon Darren Chester MP, Committee Chair Electorate: (03) 5144 6744 Parliament: (02) 6277 4728 For background information Committee Secretariat Parliament: 02 6277 4707 Road.Safety.reps@aph.gov.au For more information about this Committee, you can visit its website. On the site, you can make a submission to an inquiry, read other submissions, and get details for upcoming public hearings. You can also track the Committee and receive email updates by clicking on the blue ‘Track Committee’ button in the bottom right-hand corner of the page

The Joint Select Committee on Road Safety will hold further public hearings for its inquiry into Road Safety on 12 and 14 October 2021.

Media release issue date: Friday, 8 October 2021

The Joint Select Committee on Road Safety will hold further public hearings for its inquiry into Road Safety on 12 and 14 October 2021. The hearing on 12 October 2021 will be an opportunity for the committee to hear from representative bodies and research institutions about road safety issues for specific cohorts of road users such as pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists, and members of the caravan industry, as well as about targeted measures that can be taken to reduce road trauma. Committee Chair, the Hon Darren Chester MP, said that ‘pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists are at higher risk of death and serious injury when involved in a road traffic incident, and are overrepresented in road trauma statistics. Regrettably, these road users are often overlooked in road safety strategies in favour of improving safety for passenger vehicles. Further, road safety initiatives often group cyclists, motorcyclists, and pedestrians together under the heading of “vulnerable road users”, notwithstanding that these groups of road users have very different wants and needs. Accordingly, the committee will hear about the particular concerns of road users other than passenger vehicles, and about targeted solutions to improve safety outcomes’. The hearing on 14 October 2021 will be an opportunity for the committee to hear from representative bodies and state and local governments about road safety in regional, rural, and remote areas. The committee will also consider road safety concerns facing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, and measures that can be taken at the state and local government level to address road trauma. Mr Chester said that ‘Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are overrepresented in road trauma statistics, highlighting the need for culturally appropriate countermeasures which prioritise self-determination and account for the social determinants of health. In addition, we continue to see higher rates of death and serious injury on regional, rural, and remote roads, with fatality rates associated with crashes on very remote roads more than 13 times higher than fatality rates in our major cities. Local governments, which are responsible for managing most of our road networks, will be critical to addressing road trauma outside of our major cities, and indeed at the national level. The work of state governments will also be crucial as we look to develop integrated, holistic, nationally consistent solutions. The committee looks forward to hearing from state and local government organisations about measures that can be taken to improve safety for all Australians’. Public hearing details Date:               Tuesday, 12 October 2021 Time:              9.30am to 5.00pm Witnesses:     Amy Gillett Foundation AusCycling Streets Alive Yarra Motorcycle Council of New South Wales Australian Motorcycle Council Riders Action Group Western Australia WalkSydney Pedestrian Council of Australia Institute for Sensible Transport Caravan Industry Association of Australia   Date:               Thursday, 14 October 2021 Time:              9.30am to 5.00pm Witnesses:     National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation National Rural Health Alliance Australian Capital Territory Government Tasmanian Government Western Roads Federation Western Australian Local Government Association Northern Territory Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics Municipal Association of Victoria Programs for the hearings are available on the committee’s website. Due to health and safety concerns relating to the COVID-19 pandemic, hearings will be held remotely via videoconference and will not be open for public attendance. However, interested members of the public will be able to view proceedings via the live webcast at aph.gov.au/live Media inquiries The Hon Darren Chester MP, Committee Chair Electorate: (03) 5144 6744 Parliament: (02) 6277 4728 For background information Committee Secretariat Parliament: 02 6277 4707 Road.Safety.reps@aph.gov.au For more information about this Committee, you can visit its website. On the site, you can make a submission to an inquiry, read other submissions, and get details for upcoming public hearings. You can also track the Committee and receive email updates by clicking on the blue ‘Track Committee’ button in the bottom right-hand corner of the page.

The Joint Select Committee on Road Safety will hold further public hearings for its Inquiry into Road Safety on 6 and 7 October 2021.

Media release issue date: Friday, 1 October 2021

The Joint Select Committee on Road Safety will hold further public hearings for its Inquiry into Road Safety on 6 and 7 October 2021. The hearing on 6 October 2021 will be an opportunity for the committee to hear from industry participants, regulators, and peak bodies about road safety in the workplace, with a focus on the heavy vehicle and freight sector, and the gig economy. Committee Chair, the Hon Darren Chester MP, said that ‘vehicle use is by far the most significant contributor to work-related trauma. Over 60 per cent of worker traumatic injury fatalities involve a vehicle. With the expanding gig economy, we are likely to see increases in deaths and serious injuries on our roads unless measures are taken to enhance workplace road safety. Also critical to reducing road trauma is understanding the causes of heavy vehicle crashes, and designing measures to enable heavy vehicles to share our roads safely with other road users. Accordingly, the hearing will be an opportunity for the committee to hear about issues facing Australians who use the road as a workplace and measures that may be taken in this area to improve road safety outcomes’. The hearing on 7 October 2021 will be an opportunity for the committee to hear from research institutions, as well as peak bodies in the medical and law enforcement sectors, about impacts of road trauma on first responders and medical professionals and measures that can be taken to enhance post-crash response. Mr Chester said that ‘in addition to the long-lasting impacts on victims, families and communities, road trauma has a hugely significant impact on first responders, emergency services personnel and medical staff. Post-crash care—including emergency treatment, trauma care and rehabilitation—is also a key pillar of the Safe System approach and is critical to achieving our ambitious “Vision Zero” targets. Accordingly, the hearing will be an opportunity for the committee to gather valuable evidence in relation to the impacts of road trauma on first responders and the medical sector, and the measures that can be taken to reduce the impacts of road trauma through enhanced post-crash care’ Public hearing details Date:               Wednesday, 6 October 2021 Time:              9.30am to 4.15pm Witnesses:      National Heavy Vehicle Regulator Uber Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport Deliveroo Australian Trucking Association National Road Transport Association Toll Group Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) Date:               Thursday, 7 October 2021 Time:              9.30am to 3.15pm Witnesses:      Royal Australasian College of Surgeons Australasian Trauma Society Injury Matters Australian Road Research Board Police Federation of Australia Centre for Accident Research and Road Safety – Queensland Due to health and safety concerns relating to the COVID-19 pandemic, hearings will be held remotely via videoconference and will not be open for public attendance. However, interested members of the public will be able to view proceedings via the live webcast at aph.gov.au/live Media inquiries The Hon Darren Chester MP, Committee Chair Electorate: (03) 5144 6744 Parliament: (02) 6277 4728 For background information Committee Secretariat Parliament: 02 6277 4707 Road.Safety.reps@aph.gov.au For more information about this Committee, you can visit its website. On the site, you can make a submission to an inquiry, read other submissions, and get details for upcoming public hearings. You can also track the Committee and receive email updates by clicking on the blue ‘Track Committee’ button in the bottom right-hand corner of the page.

The Joint Select Committee on Road Safety will hold further public hearings for its Inquiry into Road Safety on 29 and 30 September 2021. The hearing on 29 September 2021 will be an opportunity for the committee to hear from driver education programs, allied health professionals, academics and legal organisations about the ‘human’ factors which contribute to road trauma and measures that may be taken in this space to improve road safety outcomes.

Media release issue date: Monday, 27 September 2021

The Joint Select Committee on Road Safety will hold further public hearings for its Inquiry into Road Safety on 29 and 30 September 2021. The hearing on 29 September 2021 will be an opportunity for the committee to hear from driver education programs, allied health professionals, academics and legal organisations about the ‘human’ factors which contribute to road trauma and measures that may be taken in this space to improve road safety outcomes. Committee Chair, the Hon Darren Chester MP, said that ‘the majority of fatalities and serious injuries on our roads result from human error. Indeed, the “fatal five”—speeding, distraction, fatigue, drug and alcohol impairment, and failure to wear a seatbelt—are all consequences of actions taken by drivers. The committee strongly favours a holistic approach to road safety, including ongoing investment in better, safer roads, and considers human factors to be a critical component of the road safety environment. Accordingly, the hearing will be an opportunity for the committee to gather valuable evidence on how human error contributes to road trauma, and measures that can be taken to reduce error and enhance safety on Australian roads’. The hearing on 30 September 2021 will be an opportunity for the committee to hear from peak bodies, research organisations and safety authorities about the measures which Australia can take to reduce road trauma via safer vehicles and improvements to the nation’s infrastructure. Committee Chair, the Hon Darren Chester MP, said that ‘ensuring vehicles on Australian roads are as safe as possible—including by encouraging the uptake of proven safety technology—is crucial to addressing road trauma. Equally important is maintaining the quality and currency of road infrastructure and ensuring new and upgraded infrastructure fully considers the safety of road users. Accordingly, the hearing will be an opportunity for the committee to hear about measures to ensure the safety of vehicles on our roads, and the infrastructure that is needed to reduce road trauma and ensure Australia is prepared for future vehicle technologies’. Public hearing details Date:               Wednesday, 29 September 2021 Time:              9.30am to 4.15pm Witnesses:  Occupational Therapy Australia Maurice Blackburn Lawyers Road Safety Education Limited BRAKE National Road Safety Partnership Program Road Safety Matters Engineers Australia Date:               Thursday, 30 September 2021 Time:              9.30am to 5.00pm Witnesses: Institute of Public Works Engineering Australasia Dr Richard Tooth Roads Australia Australian Automobile Association Human Factors and Ergonomics Society of Australia Australian Road Safety Foundation 3M Electric Vehicle Council Due to health and safety concerns relating to the COVID-19 pandemic, hearings will be held remotely via videoconference and will not be open for public attendance. However, interested members of the public will be able to view proceedings via the live webcast at aph.gov.au/live Media inquiries The Hon Darren Chester MP, Committee Chair Electorate: (03) 5144 6744 Parliament: (02) 6277 4728 For background information Committee Secretariat Parliament: 02 6277 4707 Road.Safety.reps@aph.gov.au For more information about this Committee, you can visit its website. On the site, you can make a submission to an inquiry, read other submissions, and get details for upcoming public hearings. You can also track the Committee and receive email updates by clicking on the blue ‘Track Committee’ button in the bottom right-hand corner of the page.

The Joint Select Committee on Road Safety will hold a public hearing for its Inquiry into Road Safety on 13 September 2021. As this will be the first hearing for the inquiry, the committee will hear from Commonwealth agencies and research organisations about key issues facing the road safety sector, as well as about current and proposed initiatives to improve road safety outcomes

Media release issue date: Friday, 10 September 2021

The Joint Select Committee on Road Safety will hold a public hearing for its Inquiry into Road Safety on 13 September 2021. As this will be the first hearing for the inquiry, the committee will hear from Commonwealth agencies and research organisations about key issues facing the road safety sector, as well as about current and proposed initiatives to improve road safety outcomes. Part of the committee’s mandate is to build on the work of the previous Joint Select Committee on Road Safety. The committee will therefore use this first hearing as an opportunity to discuss the implementation status of the previous committee’s recommendations, and to examine the progress that has been made towards improving road safety outcomes since the previous committee tabled its report in October 2020. New Committee Chair, the Hon Darren Chester MP, said that ‘while we are focused on working together towards zero deaths and serious injuries on Australian roads by 2050, this inquiry will consider in particular practical steps that can be taken in the short to medium term to reduce trauma and deaths on our roads. This hearing will be an important first reference point for the committee, and an opportunity to examine the state of play in the road safety sector by hearing from Commonwealth agencies and research organisations about key issues and potential solutions’. Public hearing details Date: Monday, 13 September 2021 Time: 10.00am to 5.00pm Witnesses: Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Cities Office of Road Safety Austroads International Road Safety Assessment Programme (iRAP) Centre for Automotive Safety Research, University of Adelaide Australasian College of Road Safety Accident Research Centre, Monash University Transurban Road Safety Centre, Neuroscience Research Australia (NeuRA). Due to health and safety concerns relating to the COVID-19 pandemic, the hearing will be held remotely via videoconference and will not be open for public attendance. However, interested members of the public will be able to view proceedings via the live webcast at aph.gov.au/live Media inquiries The Hon Darren Chester MP, Committee Chair Electorate: (03) 5144 6744 Parliament: (02) 6277 4728 For background information Committee Secretariat Parliament: 02 6277 4707 Road.Safety.reps@aph.gov.au For more information about this Committee, you can visit its website. On the site, you can make a submission to an inquiry, read other submissions, and get details for upcoming public hearings. You can also track the Committee and receive email updates by clicking on the blue ‘Track Committee’ button in the bottom right hand corner of the page.

A new parliamentary committee has been appointed to investigate how to reduce trauma and deaths on Australian roads.

Media release issue date: Monday, 12 July 2021

A new parliamentary committee has been appointed to investigate how to reduce trauma and deaths on Australian roads. The Joint Select Committee on Road Safety will build on the work of the previous committee and will investigate and identify opportunities to improve road safety programs and policy; embed road trauma prevention across agencies; and reduce road trauma in the workplace. Committee Chair, Pat Conaghan MP, said over a thousand people die on our roads every year while tens of thousands are hospitalised. ‘This inquiry will focus on the practical and immediate steps that can be taken to reduce trauma and deaths on our roads’, Mr Conaghan said. ‘The committee will be focusing on what can be done in the short to medium term to achieve real and tangible results. We need to focus on action and cooperation in the prevention of further trauma and deaths on our road networks. We will also focus attention on ensuring the Federal Government’s 2021-22 Budget commitment of $3 billion over three years to the Road Safety Program continues to be effective.’ For many Australians, particularly those living in rural and regional Australia, our roads are an essential and unavoidable means of travel. Rural and regional Australians are disproportionately impacted by road trauma, with two‑thirds of deaths on Australian roads in 2019 occurring in regional or remote areas. Vehicles and our roads are also a workplace for many Australians. More than half of all worker fatalities in Australia are related to vehicles. ‘We always have to remember that these are people not just statistics. They are mums and dads picking the kids up from school; truck drivers keeping our supermarkets stocked; cyclists and pedestrians heading to work; farmers driving into town to re-supply; and gig‑economy delivery workers’, Mr Conaghan said. The Chair said it is important that Australia explores options to meet its road safety targets. ‘We must all work together towards zero deaths and serious injuries on Australian roads by 2050. Everyone deserves to feel safe on our roads,’ Mr Conaghan said. Media inquiries Mr Pat Conaghan MP, Committee Chair Electorate: (02) 6652 6233, Parliament: (02) 6277 4446 For background information Committee Secretariat 02 6277 4707 Road.Safety.reps@aph.gov.au View a video about the inquiry featuring the Chair and Deputy Chair. For more information about this Committee, you can visit its website. On the site, you can make a submission to an inquiry, read other submissions, and get details for upcoming public hearings. You can also track the Committee and receive email updates by clicking on the blue ‘Track Committee’ button in the bottom right hand corner of the page.