11 May 2011

The Government’s Safer Journeys Action Plan 2011-12 takes genuine steps forward in road safety, believes the AA.

The plan sets a roadmap for what will be done over the next two years to implement New Zealand’s 10 year Safer Journeys strategy. The AA sees some areas in the plan that will need careful consideration but strongly supports the document overall and gives it an 8/10.

“The issue with strategies is they often just sit on the shelf collecting dust so we are very pleased to see this detailed action plan to actually deliver the goals of the Safer Journeys strategy,” says AA General Manager Motoring Affairs Mike Noon.

“The action plan sets measurable targets, makes it clear who is responsible for the work and how progress will be monitored.

“It sets a foundation for real progress in reducing the number of people killed and seriously injured on our roads.”

The Safer Journeys strategy for 2010-2020 took a new and challenging approach to road safety. It is founded on a ‘safe system’ concept that acknowledges that even responsible drivers will sometimes make mistakes on the road. A ‘safe system’ focuses on improving roads, vehicles and driver behaviour to protect people from death or serious injury if an crash occurs

As National Road Safety Committee convenor Martin Matthews says in the action plan: “Road safety is everyone’s responsibility and we all need to do our bit. Whether you are a road designer or a road user, a vehicle retailer or a vehicle owner, you can play a part in helping to ensure we really do have a safe system.”

Some of the key points in the action plan the AA particularly supports are:

• The seven Roads of National Significance will need to have a four star safety rating under the New Zealand Road Assessment Programme (KiwiRAP), which combines video analysis with traffic and crash data to provide safety ratings. The percentage of the country’s roading network rated three stars or above will also increase.
• An aim to have more modern, safer vehicles on our roads with safety features like electronic stability control, ABS brakes and airbags.
• A continued enforcement focus on high-risk drivers such as offenders who drive drunk or while drugged
• Increasing the safety of young drivers through a range of initiatives
• Better educating drivers about the risks of fatigue and distraction

The action plan also flags the possibility of changes to the way speed limits are set in future, which is an area of major interest for AA Members.

“Speed is an important factor in accident causation and for the severity of crashes. The AA supports a focus on safe speeds but this needs to be carefully balanced with the realistic needs of motorists and the purpose and function of the road. Developing a nationally consistent approach to safe speeds will be challenging and needs to be well thought through to get buy in from users. The AA looks forward to its continued engagement with the Government in this work,” says Mr Noon.

ENDS

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