This report estimates the benefit-cost ratios of various road safety and traffic managenent programs and initiatives. Programs instigated before the existence of the Parliamentary Social Development Committee 1984 report, and programs recommended by the committee have been analysed for cost effectiveness. In general, this analysis indicated the benefits gained from road safety and traffic management programs greatly outweigh the cost they incur. The total road safety program implemented during the seven years up to 1984 returned benefits over four times greater than its costs - $3100 million benefits for $700 million investment. A further program of new road safety initiatives is described in the report and the benefit-cost ratio of each component has been estimated, demonstrating that generally benefits well in excess of costs are likely to be found. Analysis suggests that increasing the frequency of random breath testing will have the single greatest impact on the road toll in the short term.
Abstract