Road fatalities remain above national targets despite a fall in the toll last year, according to a report in today’s Sydney Morning Herald.
The report said last year’s fatality rate of 6.9 deaths per 100,000 people was well above the 2009 target of 5.6, set in the national road safety strategy of 1999.
In other news, both the Herald and Daily Telegraph reported this week that thousands of motorists had sought alternative Harbour crossings in the wake of the introduction of fully cashless tolling on the Sydney Harbour Bridge (see story below). The Herald said the trend was likely to worsen once differential tolling starts later this month, however an RTA spokesman was quoted as saying the road network would adjust to the changes.
The Age carried a story this week on a report comparing Melbourne’s public transport system against 52 cities internationally, drawing the conclusion that Melbourne is one of the developed world’s most car dependent cities.
Meantime a Herald editorial on January 5 called into question the future of PPPs, saying it was time to reconsider whether financing and ownership of public assets shouldn’t return to the State.
The national road toll fell in 2008, with Victoria and NSW recording historically low fatality numbers.
The only state or territory to see a dramatic increase in fatalities was the Northern Territory, up from 57 in 2007 to a 20-year high of 75 in 2008.
Victorian Roads and Ports Minister, Tim Pallas, said 304 people lost their lives on his State’s roads in 2008, the lowest since records began in 1952 and 28 less than 2007.
Mr Pallas said he was particularly concerned that deaths among two road user groups – pedestrians and road users over 70 – had increased in 2008, while alcohol continued to be a significant factor in road fatalities.
NSW Roads Minister Michael Daley said his State’s provisional toll for 2008 was 395 fatalities, the lowest in 64 years and a nine per cent reduction on 2007. Mr Daley noted it was the sixth consecutive year the NSW toll had fallen.
In Queensland, Transport Minister John Mickel announced the State’s provisional 2008 toll as 327 – down from 360 the previous year but still, in his words, unacceptably high.
South Australia recorded 99 road fatalities in 2008, down from 125 in 2007; WA 209 deaths compared to 235 in 2007; and Tasmania 40 deaths compared to 45 in 2007.
The ACT road toll for 2008 was 14 - the same as for 2007.
The Queensland Government last month announced funding approval for two significant Pacific Motorway projects on the Gold Coast.
Premier Anna Bligh said the widening of one of the most heavily congested sections of the M1 and the upgrade of the Mudgeeraba interchange, jointly funded by the State and Federal Governments to the tune of $180 million, would improve driving conditions for up to 125,000 cars each day.
Ms Bligh and Federal Infrastructure and Transport Minister, Anthony Albanese, announced:
Work on the interchange is scheduled for completion in 2010, with the lane-widening of the Nielsens Road-Worongary section of the M1 scheduled for completion in 2011, weather permitting.
The Federal Government has approved $10.5 million to start work in April on the $164 million Brighton Bypass on Tasmania’s Midland Highway.
The initiative, which stems from the Government’s $4.7 billion Nation Building plan, will bring construction forward by more than six months.
Federal Infrastructure and Transport Minister, Anthony Albanese, says construction of the 9.5 kilometre, dual carriage bypass will create up to 380 direct jobs.
The Minister says the bypass will improve safety; support the rapidly expanding Brighton Industrial Estate; take vehicles off Brighton streets; cut travel times between Hobart and Launceston; and improve access to port facilities at Triabunna and the proposed Brighton Transport Hub.
The bypass is due to be completed in mid 2012.
Infrastructure Australia last month presented the Federal Government with the results of its preliminary audit of the nation's vital economic assets and infrastructure proposals for prioritisation.
The report listed 94 infrastructure proposals for prioritisation from the more than 1,000 put forward in over 600 submissions received from state and territory governments as well as councils, business organisations and members of the public.
These 94 projects will be subject to further analysis before a final Priority List is handed to the Government in the first quarter of this year.
Infrastructure Australia's analysis has concluded that future public and private investment needs be directed towards:
In addition to undertaking the audit and compiling the infrastructure proposals for prioritisation, Infrastructure Australia has also developed national public-private partnership guidelines.
The report is available at www.infrastructureaustralia.gov.au/publications.aspx
Sydney’s iconic Harbour Bridge completed the transition to fully cashless tolling last weekend.
NSW Roads Minister, Michael Daley, said the move would help ease congestion on Australia’s busiest road corridor, improving traffic flow for everyone travelling into the CBD from the north.
“Around 2,000 vehicles can move through an E-lane an hour compared to 400 vehicles in a cash lane, so there’s no question this move will improve traffic around the bridge’s tolling points,” Mr Daley said.
The Minister also noted that the uptake of electronic tags had soared in the weeks leading up to the changeover.
Meantime, time of day tolling will be introduced on the Harbour Bridge and Tunnel from January 27.
The move, foreshadowed by the State Government in its October min-budget, aims to help ease traffic congestion on the busy corridor and to encourage motorists to travel outside peak hours where possible.
National survey results released last week show that Australians are well informed on road safety matters, yet many still choose to take unnecessary risks on the road.
The Federal Government's latest Survey of Community Attitudes to Road Safety involved interviewing 1,600 people from across the country about their road safety beliefs, attitudes and practices.
As well as showing widespread public awareness about the main causes of road trauma - such as speeding, alcohol, driver distraction and fatigue - the findings also show strong support for existing traffic regulation and enforcement.
The survey found that:
The full 2008 Survey of Community Attitudes to Road Safety can be downloaded from www.infrastructure.gov.au/roads/safety/index.aspx
The Australian Logistics Council (ALC) Annual Forum is being held in Melbourne on February 12 and 13. Roads Australia members can qualify for a 10 per cent discount on registrations.
With a theme of ‘A Time for Action’, the 2009 Forum is billed as the premier event for T&L leaders and decision makers to join together to set the industry’s future direction.
Highlights of the two-day Forum include a visit to Westgate Ports and a reception at the MCG.
Key industry and political leaders who will address the Forum include Federal Infrastructure and Transport Minister, Anthony Albanese; Victorian Roads and Ports Minister, Tim Pallas; Toll Holdings MD, Paul Little; NTC Chief Executive, Nick Dimopoulos; and Federal TWU Secretary, Tony Sheldon
The ALC Annual Forum is a chance to have a say and provide input into the future of T&L. It is also a unique opportunity to network with senior leaders from the T&L industry.
RA members can register online or contact Alyson for a copy of the registration brochure on (02) 9223 9366 or email alyson@padamsassociates.com.au
A new portal for providing transport-related data has been jointly developed by the Policy & Communications Division (PAC) and Public Transport Division (PTD) of the Victorian Department of Transport.
The portal enables visitors to explore Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), PTD and VicRoads data at a State Region, Local Government Area or Statistical Local Area level. It allows for profiling of individual geographic areas, as well as direct comparisons of areas.
It can be accessed at www.transport.vic.gov.au/statistics
The Department is seeking any suggestions or feedback regarding the useability and content of the portal at this early stage. Please email comments to christina.inbakaran@transport.vic.gov.au and simon.gaymer@transport.vic.gov.au
Submitted by Mark Bowmer on Friday January 16th 2009 2:52pm
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