Consultations for the draft copy of the 2011-2020 National Road Safety Strategy are now open.
The draft proposes measures to reduce the number of serious crashes on Australia’s roads by at least 30 per cent by 2020.
The Australian Trucking Association (ATA) has welcomed the consultations.
“The safe systems approach recognises that many road accidents are caused by mistakes, not deliberate breaches of the road rules,” said Chief Executive Stuart St Clair of ATA.
“The best way to deal with these accidents is to build systems around drivers to reduce the chance of an accident occurring, and then minimise the consequences of the crashes that occur,” Mr St Clair said.
“This approach is at the heart of the ATA’s longstanding call for safer roads, safer trucks, safer drivers and safer companies. The draft strategy takes a similar, but less comprehensive, approach, with its proposals for safe roads, safe speeds, safe vehicles and safe people.”
Mr St Clair said the final version of the strategy would need to include the construction of more truck rest areas to prevent fatigued drivers from accidents.
The consultation period for the 2011-2020 National Road Safety Strategy ends 11 February 2011.