As a central Hobart school with almost 1,300 students, we all have a responsibility to take extra care around our neighbouring roads when travelling to and from the School.
Please take the time to read the specific campus road safety reminders below and general considerations developed by our Road Safety Taskforce.
We encourage students to travel safely to and from the School via public transport, bike, scooter or on foot and where possible, for parents to carpool to help minimise the impact of traffic congestion around our School.
The message is simple. We need to put the welfare of our community above our own convenience. Remember; if not for you, for them!
To officially acknowledge formation of the Parliamentary Friends of Road Safety Group, the ANCAP Board of Directors will join with the Group's leaders, Senator Alex Gallacher and the Hon. Darren Chester MP, in hosting the Group at a reception at Parliament House on 24 September 2014.
The reception will provide an opportunity for members of the Parliamentary Friends for Road Safety Group to discuss the key road and vehicle safety issues facing the Australian community - now and into the future.
“This event and the formation of the Group is a significant step in putting road safety back on the national political agenda,” said Senator Gallacher.
“Better roads, safer cars and greater road user education are necessary steps in avoiding tragic scenes witnessed daily across the country, and Federal Parliament is the best place from which to send a united message to every corner of this nation.”
Federal Member for Gippsland, Darren Chester MP, said there was bipartisan support to further promote road safety measures within the Parliament.
“Everybody has an interest in reducing road trauma and the Parliamentary Friends of Road Safety are eager to discuss new ways of keeping this important issue at the top of the agenda,” Mr Chester said.
“We not only need to maintain our focus on improving driver behaviour and education, but also further investment in road infrastructure and vehicle safety improvements.”
ANCAP Chairman and President of the Australasian College of Road Safety, Mr Lauchlan McIntosh AM said, "Australia has been very successful with a range of programs to reduce road trauma over the last 40 years, and with a recognition of the value of a Safe Systems approach focussing not only on education but innovation, vehicles and infrastructure, we should recognise that we can successfully design our roads system with the vision that no one should die or be injured unnecessarily as we do with other transport systems."
This week the ACRS, along with Women in Trucking Australia, hosted a road safety event at the Australian Parliament House. The afternoon was coordinated by the Parliamentary Friends of Road Safety co-chaired by Senator Glenn Sterle and Llew O’Brien MP and provided Members of Parliament, Senators and their advisors with the opportunity to meet with road safety experts.
ACRS President Professor (Em) Ann Williamson was MC for the event with presentations from Glenn Sterle on behalf of the Senator Carol Brown, Assistant Minister for Infrastructure and Transport; Tony Pasin MP, Shadow Assistant Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, behalf of the Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Senator Bridget McKenzie; Dr Ingrid Johnston, CEO of ACRS; Professor Jeremy Woolley, Director of the Centre for Automotive Safety; Julie Downey, Director of the Women in Trucking Australia; and Llew O’Brien MP wrapping up the afternoon.
Areas covered during the event included the current state of road trauma in Australia; the challenge in meeting the national target of reducing trauma by 50% by 2030; what needs to change to get to zero deaths and serious injuries on our roads; and the opportunities from the recommendations in the Driving Reform: final report for the Inquiry into Road Safety.
We thank the Parliamentary Friends of Road Safety, who coordinated the event, as well as all of the presenters. We also extend our thanks to the parliamentarians and advisors who attended along with the many ACRS leaders who contributed to the conversation.