The NSW Centre for Road Safety’s job is to change cultural values on road safety in NSW. It’s first mission – to convince drivers that speeding is socially unacceptable.
In May 2007, Roads Minister Eric Roozendaal and Roads and Traffic Authority CEO Les Wielinga announced the establishment of the NSW Centre for Road Safety.
The centre was set up as part of a restructure of the RTA’s road safety group to implement the NSW Government’s State Plan priorities of safer roads and improved driver behaviour.
The immediate task for the NSW Centre for Road Safety is to focus the RTA on developing new solutions to the biggest killer on our roads – speeding - which is a factor in 40 per cent of our road deaths. The centre’s first achievement has been the launch of the ‘Speeding – no one thinks big of you’ campaign, which is already producing results.
The centre is also looking at emerging road safety technology like electronic stability control and will work closely with interstate and national bodies to drive national improvements in areas like child restraints, Australian Design Rule changes and safety classifications for vehicles.
The centre will consult with community groups and also draw on a wide range of road safety expertise in NSW, including motoring groups, insurance bodies and government agencies like NSW Police and the Motor Accidents Authority.
The NSW Government’s State Plan has set the RTA a target to reduce the loss of life on our roads and make our roads safer. The NSW Centre for Roads Safety will help deliver that commitment.
The centre became operational from January 1, 2008 with four divisions:
Behaviour
Vehicles
Technology
Road Environment
The centre has been charged with developing:
Advertising campaigns designed to make speeding become socially unacceptable.
Tests of new safety technology for both vehicles and the road environment.
Industry awards for innovation in safety technology.
Safety classifications for vehicles.
Best practice design models for road building and maintenance.
Contact the NSW Centre for Road Safety on 13 22 13.
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