The aim of this project was to identify and undertake the fundamental groundwork required prior to the establishment of a road safety database access system. Specifically, the project aimed to define the content and scope of an ideal road safety data system based on the current “Safe System” paradigm for developing road safety policy and countermeasures, to compare this with the current road safety data systems available in Western Australia and to map a path for translating the current system into the ideal one. In order to fulfil the stated objective, the following tasks were undertaken: Development of a conceptual framework for defining an ideal, comprehensive and integrated road safety data system to support the Safe System paradigm; Determination of specific road safety data system requirements in the Western Australian context from the conceptual framework; Review of existing road safety data systems available in Western Australia including current linkages between these datasets; Identification of key requirements for moving from the current Western Australian road safety data system to the ideal system specified including additional data requirements and requirements for additional linkages; Development of requirements for a multi-user database access system based on the ideal data system proposed. A comprehensive and integrated road safety data system would deliver numerous specific benefits including: The ability to easily monitor and report on key performance targets endorsed by Government as part of Western Australia’s “Towards Zero” Road Safety Strategy 2008-2020; Facilitation of a range of new cutting edge research to inform Safe System practice capitalising on the enhanced scope and improved linkage of the available data; Assisting the development of new and highly informed road safety policy through the enhanced evidence base, additional reporting and improved data quality; The capacity to answer ad hoc queries by key agencies, researchers, policy makers and members of the public; The ability to be used for specific planning and research purposes beyond road safety including infrastructure and transport planning. (Author/publisher)
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