Page 4282 - Week 13 - Thursday, 25 November 1993
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In addition, the ACT fatality rate has been steadily declining over the past 20 years. Several highly effective road safety campaigns have led to a decline in road trauma in the ACT, and nationally, since the 1970s. Campaigns such as random breath testing and compulsory seatbelt wearing have successfully combined education programs and the enforcement of new road laws.
Yet any level of fatalities is too high. Our data over the years show that, on average, there has been a death on ACT roads every two weeks.
In addition, one must not forget accident victims with serious injuries - on average, four of these a week. Quite apart from the personal pain and suffering involved, many victims require long term care and rehabilitation, putting enormous pressure on family and friends who must find the strength to support and encourage them over extended periods of time.
The economic costs of road trauma are also high. A study of ACT road accidents commissioned by the NRMA-ACT Road Safety Trust estimated that accidents cost the ACT $150 million per year. This represents some $500 for every man, woman and child in Canberra. A reduction in road accidents would free up government and community resources to better serve the community in other areas.
Despite the advances of the past decade, I firmly believe that we should now take action with the intention that even fewer people will be killed or injured on ACT roads, and make our roads amongst the safest in the world.
The Government now extends an invitation to every member of the community to acknowledge his or her responsibility for road safety by helping develop a Road Safety Strategy for the ACT.
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