All states and territories achieved significant reductions in the numbers and rates of road fatalities during the late 1980s and early 1990s. Queensland’s road safety performance in 1995 was the worst of the four largest states (Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland and Western Australia) and followed a decline in relative performance over previous years. Geographic police regions of the State exhibit markedly different trends in their fatality rates or risk of dying in a road accident. In 1995, the highest and lowest regional rates varied by a factor of four. In 1996 the rate of road fatalities in Queensland has declined significantly, though, it is not clear whether it will be a sustained reduction. In terms of the immediate causes of crashes, the Committee proposes to examine separately the involvement of alcohol, speed, driver fatigue and restraints in Queensland’s road toll, and police reporting of crashes. Queensland Transport has developed statistical models in an endeavour to account for the impact of external factors on crash risks and, hence, the relative increases in Queensland’s road toll in recent years compared to other states. These models should be externally evaluated. Road safety needs to be better managed in Queensland. In particular, the Queensland Road Safety Strategy needs to be revised to include more quantitative objectives. Progress in its implementation should be reported annually. The Queensland Police Service should report its road safety activities objectively, and strategically manage its traffic policing operations across all regions. The Committee could not properly examine trends in traffic policing activities in Queensland in recent years due to a lack of information on past Road Safety program expenditure by the Queensland Police Service, though, on secondary indications it has reduced. The provision of additional funding has been integral to achieving improvements in road safety in Victoria and New South Wales in recent years. Additional road safety funding in Queensland could be sourced from camera detected traffic offences, the Motor Accident Insurance Commission (MAIC) and third party insurers. Greater emphasis should be placed by the MAIC on preventative road safety activities, including traffic policing, in the provision of research grants. (Author/publisher)
Samenvatting