Message from the Ministers
When it comes to road safety, Victorians have already achieved a great deal. But we can – and must – do more.
In 2006, the Government released the Meeting Our Transport Challenges action plan, which will invest an unprecedented $10.5 billion into improving Victoria’s transport system over the next decade. Meeting Our Transport Challenges provides a major boost in funding for road safety, including the development of a new road safety strategy. arrive alive 2008-2017 meets this commitment and delivers new actions and investments to further reduce the state’s road toll and improve safety on our roads.
arrive alive 2008-2017 builds on the strong foundation put in place by Victoria’s previous – and highly successful – road safety strategy. Under the new strategy, the Government continues to invest in road safety initiatives with a proven track record – initiatives that have saved the lives of many Victorians. At the same time, we are using new evidence, methods and technologies to increase our road safety efforts.
Since 1999, the Government has allocated in excess of $500 million to deliver targeted road safety infrastructure programs. This has included the $240m TAC funded Statewide Blackspot Program, the biggest of its kind in Australian history and the ground breaking $240m Safer Roads Program currently underway.The arrive alive 2008 - 2017 strategy sees Victoria formally incorporating the Safe System approach to road safety. In taking this step, the Government is making a firm commitment to the principles of the Safe System approach and to making this approach the foundation of our future actions in road safety.
The Safe System approach recognises that, even with the best preventive programs in place, road crashes will still occur – and aims to build a road system that offers maximum protection to all users by providing safer road infrastructure, increasing the number of safe vehicles on our roads and improving the safe behaviour of road users by targeting areas such as speeding, drink and drug driving, fatigued driving and driver distraction.
Victoria has established an internationally recognised record in road safety by resolutely tackling the main causes of road trauma. With the best known road safety measures in place, our challenge is to continue making significant road safety gains by being just as resolute in tackling more difficult and testing issues and behaviour.
arrive alive 2008-2017 sets out a strong framework to meet this challenge. We look forward to working with the Victorian community to deliver arrive alive 2008-2017 and to ensure that Victoria continues to be a world leader in road safety.
The Honourable Tim Pallas, Minister for Roads and Ports
The Honourable Bob Cameron, Minister for Police and Emergency Services
The Honourable Tim Holding, Minister responsible for the TAC
