The SA road safety plan comes after 11 lives were lost on the state’s roads in January
The South Australian government has gone to new measures to reduce deaths and serious injuries on the road as it targets dangerous road behaviour in its Road Safety Action Plan 2023-2025.
The SA government’s plan is a direct response to a tragic start to the year on the state’s roads, with consultation and feedback helping develop the plan.
Over the past decade, SA says it has improved its road safety outcomes, but 11 deaths in January exceeded the monthly average.
The Action Plan identifies measures that will contribute to a target of at least a 50 per cent reduction in lives lost and a 30 per cent reduction in serious injuries on South Australian roads by 2031.
Poor driving behaviours, including drink and drug driving, speeding, distraction and incorrect use of seatbelts in addition to dangerous road users, will be targeted. A combination of approaches including enforcement, education and public awareness will be used to address dangerous driving behaviours.
South Australia’s Road Safety Action Plan 2023-2025 adopts the ‘Safe System’ approach to improve the state’s roads and encourage the uptake of safer vehicles and safe road user behaviour, particularly on regional roads.
The Action Plan will enable a focus on network safety planning that prioritises road safety infrastructure improvements and reduces risk to road users.
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This includes the $150 million Adelaide Hills productivity and safety package which the SA government says will deliver better road safety infrastructure in the region.
Road safety infrastructure and other measures for safer school precincts underscore the state government’s focus on improving safety around schools.
Improved outcomes for Aboriginal road users are also a focus, including better data collection and exploring opportunities to expand the successful On the Right Track (licensing) program.
A progress report will be published annually with ten focus areas:
1. Schools and local places
2. Public transport, cycling and walking
3. Motorcyclists
4. Aboriginal road users
5. Road user behaviour
6. Road safety in the workplace
7. Regional and remote areas
8. Heavy vehicles
9. Vehicles and technology
10. Research and data.
SA police, emergency services and correctional services minister Joe Szakacs says the plan is integral to the government’s aims of reducing deaths on SA roads.
“This Action Plan will further protect vulnerable road users including those around our schools. The impacts of road trauma are significant for families, friends, workmates, first responders and the community,” Szakacs says.
“The Action Plan provides strong accountability through safety performance indicators and annual reporting to make sure that what we are doing is working to reduce deaths and serious injuries as a result of road trauma. We can achieve positive change by creating a safer road environment for all users.
“By working together, we can achieve positive change and create a safer road environment, which protects South Australia’s road users, including our most vulnerable road users.”