Road Safety Strategy submission deadline looms

National Road Safety Committee (NRSC) Chairman Reg Barrett is urging New Zealanders with an interest in improving road safety to make a submission on the proposed Road Safety Strategy 2010.

“Making a submission on the strategy is a way of having a say about the future direction of road safety in New Zealand,’’ Mr Barrett said. The deadline for submissions is 22 December.

The proposed strategy outlines three options developed by the NRSC. The options range from greater enforcement to more road engineering, with the third option being a mix of engineering and enforcement.

The NRSC hosted a number of public meetings throughout the country in October and November at which a range of views were expressed. “These measures are required on top of what is already being done if we are to match current world best practice by 2010,” Mr Barrett said.

“People clearly want safer roads, but seem uncomfortable about the proposal to lower the speed limit to 90km/hr which is a key part of the enforcement emphasis option. While it seems unlikely that the New Zealand public would support this, the alternatives are the mixed or engineering emphasis options, both of which have received some support but will cost the motoring public more,’’ Mr Barrett said.

“This is why it is important to gain as much public and industry feedback about the strategy as possible,’’ he said.

Road Safety Strategy 2010 will replace the National Road Safety Plan 1995 which expires next year. It has been prepared by the NRSC whose members include representatives from ACC, LTSA, Local Government New Zealand, Ministry of Transport, New Zealand Police, Transfund and Transit New Zealand.

Any organisation, individual or community can make a submission on the proposed Road Safety Strategy 2010. Submissions should be addressed to The National Road Safety Committee, PO Box 2840, Wellington. Alternatively they can be faxed to 04 494 8601 or emailed to info@ltsa.govt.nz.

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