Safe conduct: road safety policies and processes, Victoria, 1970's to 1990's

A research study was conducted to gain information about the road safety policy processes and organisations in Victoria, which in the last twenty years, have contributed to it moving from having one of the worst road safety records in the motorised world to one of the lowest. Existing literature was reviewed to establish whether there is a model for an ideal road safety policy process or organisation which Victoria has come close to or to which it might aspire. Using the experience of the introduction of compulsory seat belt legislation as a case study a number of conditions were identified most, if not all, of which must be present if controversial measures are to be adopted. In summary these are: a rising road toll which, in raising public awareness of the problem, opens a "window of opportunity" for new measures to be introduced; strong research evidence of effectiveness from a creditable, publicly recognised and vocal source; the availability to the public of means to comply with legislative requirements without suffering substantial inconvenience; persuasive, dedicated and persistent lobbying by a policy community with access to decision makers; an active all-party Parliamentary Committee dedicated to road safety and with strong leadership; a secure Government confident about making potentially contentious decisions; and, a supportive and influential media that is willing to take on causes and promote them. It was concluded that an ideal model for a road safety organisation is a small policy cell with some form of statutory authority. It should have a guaranteed funding source, possibly a transport injury insurance company. A reporting mechanism needs to be devised to ensure that road safety implementing agencies are made accountable for their programs. Finally it was concluded that the preferred model for an all party Joint Parliamentary Committee is one exclusively committed to road safety investigations.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Master of Arts, Public Policy, Minor Thesis at University of Melbourne. Department of Political Science.
• Authors:
  • Torpey, S
• Publication Date: 1992-9

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: 48p + appendices

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Attitudes; Case studies; Highway safety; Legislation; Policy; Publicity; Seat belts; State government; Traffic safety
• ATRI Terms: Attitude; Case study; Crash countermeasure; Legislation; Policy; Publicity; Road safety; Seat belt; State government
• Subject Areas: Policy;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01433289
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: ARRB
• Files: ATRI
• Created Date: Aug 24 2012 5:33PM