A significant reduction in the number of lives lost and serious injuries on South Australian roads over the next decade is the focus of a new 10-year road safety strategy unveiled today.
Developed in consultation with communities and key stakeholders across the state, South Australia’s Road Safety Strategy to 2031 sets an ambitious 10-year target to drastically reduce the number of lives lost on our roads, from the current three-year average of 96 per year to fewer than 43 per year by 2031.
The Strategy also sets a target to reduce serious injuries on our roads by more than 30 per cent by 2031, from 708 to fewer than 474.
Road Safety Minister Vincent Tarzia said the ambitious targets are the first steps towards achieving zero lives lost on our roads by 2050.
“Too many lives lost and serious injuries are occurring on South Australian roads,” Minister Tarzia said.
“Every life lost and serious injury on our roads is preventable. The residual effects of crashes are devastating for the families and loved ones of victims, and for those who support the seriously injured.
“South Australia’s Road Safety Strategy to 2031 sets clear targets to reduce lives lost and serious injuries on our roads as we push towards zero lives lost by 2050.
“This Strategy is an important journey we must take with every South Australian and especially those from the regions where most lives lost occur.
“Improving safety on our regional roads is a priority under the new Strategy, with the Marshall Government already spending more than $2.8 billion since 2018, including a $790 million commitment in the 2021-22 State Budget for regional road infrastructure projects and works to clear a severe maintenance backlog.”
Kym Inglis – whose wife and two young daughters lost their lives in a 2010 crash – said he supported the objectives of the new Strategy.
“We take road use as either a driver, rider or pedestrian for granted and don’t give it anywhere near the respect and attention that it deserves,” Mr Inglis said.
“Road safety is something that we have total control over as individuals. I implore the community to get behind this road safety initiative and to simply think about the risks that they take on the road without having any control over the possible devastating consequences of those risks.
“The impact of severe trauma and loss of life lasts a lifetime.
“I want and need to have my tragic loss of life become something that has a positive impact on the community.
“I wanted to do something that highlighted the impact that road crash has on families, friends and the broader communities. I didn’t want their death to be totally in vain.”
Mr Inglis shares his personal story through the Road Awareness Program with the Metropolitan Fire Service.
The program targets Year 11 students to encourage safe road use amongst new and learner drivers.
“Thank you to those communities, stakeholders and road users who provided responses to our yourSAy surveys, written submissions, market research and participated in webinars and workshops both in Adelaide and our regions,” Minister Tarzia said.
“We’ve heard your thoughts, ideas and potential solutions and they have been crucial in shaping this vital Strategy.
“The Marshall Government is now finalising a rolling three-year action plan to set the activities, responsibilities and timeframes to best implement the Strategy and create the greatest impact on saving lives, reducing serious injuries on our roads and creating safer communities.”
The strategic focus areas of the Strategy are:
- Road user behaviour: Supporting and enforcing safer road user behaviour.
- Vehicles: Increasing the use and purchase of safer vehicles in South Australia.
- Roads: Safer design, construction and maintenance of road infrastructure.
- Regional and remote areas: Reducing the number of lives lost and serious injuries on regional and remote roads.
- Workplaces: Developing a culture of road safety in South Australian workplaces.
- Aboriginal road safety: Reducing the over-representation of Aboriginal people in road crashes.
- Older road users: Greater focus on road users aged 70+.
- Walking, cycling and public transport: Improving safety for people who walk and cycle and increase public transport patronage.
- Young drivers and riders with a focus on those living in regional or remote areas: Reducing the over-representation in road crashes.
You can read the full South Australia’s Road Safety Strategy to 2031 HERE.
