A wide range of organisations is involved in road safety initiatives and research in Australia. This diversity presents opportunities for novel solutions but also the threat of dissipation of effort. A tendency to woo politicians may be appropriate for getting strategies actioned but are they necessarily the right ones? Potential benefits from some road safety interventions appear to be exaggerated and this is being commented on by stakeholders - professionals, road users and their representative organisations. The paper summarises these contrasting views. Two case studies provide examples where conflicting interpretations have emerged. Perhaps underlying the uncertainties as to what the studies imply is an over-politicisation of the road trauma issue. (A)
Abstract