Implementing Safer Journeys

The actions in Safer Journeys are aimed at addressing the priority areas through a Safe System approach. These actions are not a list of everything that could be done to improve road safety over 2010–2020. But they are the key actions that, along with continuing our most effective current initiatives, are likely to help build a safer road transport system.

In developing the strategy we looked to choose actions that we know will be effective and have high benefit/cost ratios. We have to ensure that every dollar invested in road safety funds actions that are likely to save the most lives and prevent the greatest number of injuries.

Some actions will still need to go through the parliamentary process before they can be introduced. This will include further consultation and the approval of Parliament. Actions that require funding changes will need to satisfy the funding requirements of the National Land Transport Programme.

When implemented, actions will be tailored to respond to the differing needs of New Zealand’s communities. Currently, New Zealand’s road system delivers significantly better road safety outcomes for some population groups, regions and methods of transport than others (eg Māori are almost twice as likely to die or be seriously injured in road crashes as other ethnic populations).

Safer Journeys will be implemented in three action plans

Actions will be implemented in a series of three action plans. Each action plan will detail:

• the actions that will be implemented to address the areas of concern and the level of improvement we expect to achieve
• the timing of the actions
• who will be responsible  for each action
• how progress will be monitored and actions evaluated.

What Safer Journeys will achieve

By 2020 through Safer Journeys we will aim to:

Increase the safety of young drivers
• reduce the road fatality rate of our young people from 21 per 100,000 population to a rate similar to that of young Australians of 13 per 100,000

Reduce alcohol/drug impaired driving
• reduce the level of fatalities caused by drink and/or drugged driving, currently 28 deaths per one million population, to a rate similar to that in Australia of 22 deaths per one million population

Achieve safer roads and roadsides
• significantly reduce the crash risk on New Zealand’s high risk routes

Achieve safer speeds
• significantly reduce the impact of speed on crashes by reducing the number of crashes attributed to speeding and driving too fast for the conditions

Increase the safety of motorcycling
• reduce the road fatality rate of motorcycle and moped riders from 12 per 100,000 population to a rate similar to that of the best performing Australian state, Victoria, which is 8 per 100,000

Improve the safety of the light vehicle fleet
• have more new vehicles enter the country with the latest safety features. The average age of the New Zealand light vehicle fleet will also be reduced from over 12 years old to a level similar to that of Australia, which is 10 years

Achieve safer walking and cycling
• achieve a reduction in the crash risk for pedestrians and particularly cyclists,  while at the same time encouraging an increase in use of these modes through safer roading infrastructure

Improve the safety of heavy vehicles
• reduce the number of serious crashes involving heavy vehicles

Reduce the impact of fatigue and addressing distraction
• make New Zealanders’ management of driver distraction and fatigue a habitual part of what it is to be a safe and competent driver

Reduce the impact of high risk drivers
• reduce the number of repeat  alcohol and speed offenders and incidents of illegal street racing

Increase the level of restraint use
• achieve a correct use and fitting rate of 90 percent for child restraints and make the use of booster seats the norm for children aged five to ten

Increase the safety of older New Zealanders
• reduce the road fatality rate of older New Zealanders from 15 per 100,000 population to a rate similar to that of older Australians of 11 per 100,000.

Monitoring progress

We will continue to monitor road safety issues so that we can measure the progress and success of the actions in Safer Journeys. Measurement will be clear for some result areas. For example, for young drivers the overall outcome that initiatives will need to contribute to will be to reduce the road fatality rate of young people from 21 per 100,000 population to 13 per 100,000. However, for other result areas, such as distraction and fatigue, further work will be needed to find how we will monitor progress. This could involve surveys of people’s driving behaviour to see if they routinely take steps to avoid distraction and fatigue.

Download the full Safer Journeys strategy here (PDF v7.0, 2,332kb)