|
|
Safer roads and roadsides play a significant role in either preventing crashes or minimising the trauma associated with casualty crashes. Major road infrastructure initiatives and ongoing maintenance projects incorporate safety improvements that reflect research evidence and best design principles. South Australia's Road Safety Strategy 2020 - Towards Zero Together sets the direction for reducing serious casualty trauma by at least 30 percent during the decade. The priority actions and complementary measures that will be undertaken in 2011 and 2012 to help achieve these targets are outlined in the Road Safety Action Plan 2011 & 2012. |
Issues
The most common cause of fatal and serious injury crashes in South Australia is that of hitting a fixed object, be it a tree, stobie pole or other fixture. But without trees our travel landscape would be bleak; and stobie poles give access to essential services. So many fixtures are there to stay and are in close proximity to roads, in Adelaide, country towns and in rural areas. Protecting road users by building better roads through the use of wire-rope barriers, motorcycle barriers and overtaking lanes can help minimise road trauma.
Evidence shows that shoulder sealing can reduce crash risk by up to 40%. Continuing work on road shoulders is a high priority across South Australia as is planned responses to Black Spot reports. The results of investing in initiatives for safer roads is manifest in the steady decrease in fatalities and injuries on our roads.
