Message from the Premier
Road trauma has a devastating and long-lasting impact on individuals, families and communities. For those who lose a loved one in a road crash – or those who are seriously injured or permanently disabled – the emotional and personal costs are immeasurable. Those personal costs extend to the police, paramedics and emergency workers who attend road crashes, and to the doctors and nurses who deal with the distressing consequences of accidents.
In 1970 over a thousand Victorians lost their lives in road crashes. Since then, Victoria has made a strong and determined effort to reduce road trauma and is recognised as a world leader in road safety. The introduction of compulsory seatbelts, random breath testing, improved roads, an effective speed management system and highly visible public advertising campaigns have all played a part in significantly improving road safety in our state.
One of Victoria’s great success stories is the arrive alive strategy, which has played a vital part in substantially reducing the state’s road toll and has prevented some 580 deaths. In the five years to 2007, Victoria recorded its lowest road tolls since records began. Prior to the introduction of arrive alive the annual road toll was 444, compared to 332 in 2007, a reduction of 25 per cent.
This achievement reflects not only the Government’s tough approach to road safety, but also the commitment of Victorian road users to driving and travelling more safely. However, we must not become complacent. The fact remains that road trauma kills and maims thousands of Victorians every year. More young people die from road crashes than from any other cause. Alongside those who lose their lives on our roads, over 7,000 Victorians are seriously injured in road crashes each year. These people are part of our hidden road toll; the people who bear the enormous and often ongoing social costs, the personal and emotional pain that road trauma creates.
Victoria’s new 10 year road safety strategy arrive alive 2008-2017 builds on the significant achievements of the 2002-2007 strategy. While continuing to deliver the successful elements of the arrive alive strategy, we are introducing new actions and initiatives to further improve road safety and create a safer transport system. By the end of the arrive alive 2008-2017 strategy, the Government aims to have reduced the road toll by 30 per cent. By the end of 2017 the strategy will save an extra 100 lives a year, prevent over 2,000 serious injuries a year and reduce the severity of serious injuries.
These new targets are ambitious and achieving them will require more than the Government’s leadership, investment and determination. It will also require the commitment and support of the entire Victorian community.
The Victorian Government makes no apologies for being tough on road safety. But we also recognise that road safety is a shared community responsibility in which everyone has a part to play. I urge all Victorians to get behind the arrive alive 2008-2017 strategy and work together to reduce the senseless and unnecessary deaths and injuries on our roads.
John Brumby
Premier of Victoria
