A NEW road safety program targeting country areas and upgraded safety features on country roads are two of the key platforms of a major campaign announced by the State Government on Tuesday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
And under tough new rules for drivers, all motorists convicted of a mid-range PCA charge will be forced to have an interlock system installed on their car, meaning they must prove they are sober every time they get behind the wheel.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Roads Minister Melinda Pavey launched the Road Safety Plan 2021 in response to a horror holiday road toll across NSW.
It has set a target of reducing the state’s road toll by 30 per cent by 2021 with new targets to be set every 10 years.
The plan also sets the “aspirational” target of zero road deaths and serious injuries by 2056.
Ms Berejiklian said the Road Safety Plan would bring the government’s total commitment to targeted road safety programs from the Community Road Safety Fund to $1.4 billion over five years.
A feature will be a heightened focus on country roads, with the regional fatality rate about times that of metropolitan areas.
On average, more than 70 per cent of the lives lost on country roads are locals.
To address trauma on country roads, the Road Safety Plan pledges to implement a new Saving Lives on Country Roads Program to install and upgrade safety features on country roads and reduce run-off road crashes, crashes on curves and head-on crashes.
This program will also co-ordinate infrastructure with education, enforcement and engagement, and includes:
- Addressing high risk curves through improved curve signage, widened shoulders, vehicle activated signage and safety barriers.
- Reducing crash types commonly related to lane departure and driver fatigue by installing wide centre lines, flexible barriers, audio tactile (rumble) line marking and sealed shoulders.
- Implementing a targeted Saving Lives on Country Roads public education campaign, the first of its kind for NSW.
- Building partnerships with local councils, community groups and industry to support grassroots Towards Zero initiatives.
- Ongoing targeted police enforcement to reduce risky behaviour common in crashes on country roads.
Other aspects of the plan include better planning and design of major road projects; identifying high risk roads and reviewing speed limits; and upgraded features on regional motorcycling routes.
