19 Aug 2016
No one deserves to die or be seriously hurt on our roads. Not me, not you, not your family member, friend or neighbour.
In 1971, 1061 lives were lost on Victorian roads in one year. We now have four times as many cars on the road and about 250 people dying each year in crashes. People just wouldn’t have thought that was possible.
The truth is that while Victoria has a proud history in road safety, the gains that we have been making in road trauma prevention have plateaued. That’s why it’s time for a monumental change – to commit to a future where no one has to die or be seriously injured on our roads, to commit Towards Zero.
Towards Zero is not just a campaign. It’s a new approach to the way we think about road safety. It’s backed up by the Victorian Government’s Towards Zero 2016-2020 Strategy and Action Plan, which sets out clear actions that will see us achieve our vision. We know that 90 per cent of Victorians support Towards Zero. However, only 15 per cent believe it’s possible.
The best countries for road safety in the world have reduced road trauma with Towards Zero as their focus.
How can we work Towards Zero deaths and serious injuries on our roads?
We can achieve zero by having a safe roads system. One that has safer people in safer cars travelling at safer speeds on safer roads. One of the biggest issues we face is that 44 per cent of deaths take place on high-speed rural roads. That’s why the Transport Accident Commission is investing $340 million in road infrastructure on more than 2500km of country roads.
The TAC is also investing in better infrastructure to keep cyclists and pedestrians safe in busy areas. It’s also investing in programs to keep Victorian young people safe and supporting increased drug testing and new booze buses across the state. But if Victoria is to see a reduction in road trauma, we all need to understand the important role that each of us plays.
We all make mistakes
Towards Zero acknowledges that, as humans, we make mistakes. And that in a crash, we come off second best because our bodies aren't designed to survive a crash. That’s where Graham comes in. He reminds us about how vulnerable we are.
The TAC is not saying that Graham is the answer. He’s a conversation starter, to get us all thinking and talking about the fact that our bodies just aren’t designed to protect us in a crash. That’s why we need to create a safer road system to protect our bodies from the forces involved in a crash.
We know that the majority of people do the right thing on the roads. We don’t need to tell people that if they drink and drive they’re a bloody idiot. They know that.
Towards Zero is about harnessing that understanding, that the majority of us do the right thing on the roads. We need to continue to do that and encourage the people around us to play their part. The TAC’s campaigning has gone from telling Victorians what they must do, to helping everyone understand what they can do to work Towards Zero.
To learn more about Towards Zero, visit www.towardszero.vic.gov.au
Bruce Crossett is acting chief executive of the TAC.