Have your say on safe speeds on Tasmanian roads
Vehicle speed is a leading factor in people being seriously injured or killed on the Tasmanian road network.
Public comment has now opened on the development of a Speed Management Strategy. The aim of the Strategy is to help reduce the number of people seriously injured or killed, by supporting safe and appropriate vehicle travel speeds on Tasmanian roads.
The Road Safety Advisory Council (RSAC) Chair, Scott Tilyard, said that the RSAC was seeking views on the development of the Strategy, to ensure that it is best placed to improve road safety in Tasmania.
“We know that vehicle speed is a major contributing factor in serious casualty crashes, and the key determining factor in the outcomes for those involved – the faster the vehicle speed, the greater the impact, and resulting trauma.
“We need to do more to reduce the crash forces on the human body, including for drivers and riders, their passengers, and all road users. This is especially important for vulnerable road users, such as pedestrians and cyclists”, Mr Tilyard said.
The Tasmanian Government has tasked the Road Safety Advisory Council with developing the Speed Management Strategy.
“By developing a Speed Management Strategy, we can help make our roads safer and support road users to make safer choices about their vehicle travel speeds. This will help reduce road trauma”, Mr Tilyard said.
The term ‘speed management’ refers to the set of techniques and tools designed to help achieve safe vehicle speeds across a road network. It is a key part of road safety efforts in Australia and internationally.
“Achieving safe vehicle speeds doesn’t mean we have to always lower speeds limits – we can maintain and even increase speeds limits on parts of the network if the infrastructure is safe and vulnerable road users are not at risk”.
“The Speed Management Strategy needs to take a holistic approach so that it addresses all the elements of safe and appropriate vehicle speeds. This includes safe infrastructure, community information, enforcement efforts to encourage safer road use, promoting safe vehicle technology, as well as speed limits that match the safety level of the road network”.
“We encourage all Tasmanians to contribute their feedback on the Strategy approach, to help us improve road safety, so we can all arrive home safely” Mr Tilyard said.
The feedback received will enable RSAC to develop the Speed Management Strategy, which is part of the Tasmanian Government’s commitment under the Towards Zero Action Plan 2020-2024.
To learn more and have your say, visit https://engage.stategrowth.tas.gov.au/speed-management-strategy
Submissions close on Thursday, 21 November 2024.
Contact: Mark Bandick – Mark.Bandick@stategrowth.tas.gov.au