In a formal signing ceremony in Hobart today, AusRAP partners have pledged their support for safer Australian roads and mobility for all users by 2030, joining the global #SaferRoadsPledge that has garnered support from 55 countries in just eight weeks.

Austroads, the lead of the Australian Road Assessment Program (AusRAP), joined with its partners – the Australasian College of Road Safety (ACRS), National Transport Research Organisation (NTRO) and iRAP – to sign the pledge during today’s Opening Ceremony of the Australasian Road Safety Conference.

Their pledge commitment includes:

In support of the National Road Safety Strategy 2021-30 (NRSS), which aims to halve road deaths and decrease serious injuries by 30% by 2030, and the Global Plan for the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021-2030;

• We stand for safer roads for all road users that enable more sustainable mobility and commit our support for achieving the road safety objectives of the NRSS, which reflects and exceeds the targets of the UN Sustainable Development Goals and 12 UN Global Road Safety Performance Targets.
• In support of the NRSS, we encourage the use of Star Rating Assessments as tools for new and upgraded road designs, to aim for at least three-stars or better rating for all road users by 2030.
• In support of the NRSS, we encourage the use of crash-risk mapping and proactive safety risk assessments that promote investment in safer infrastructure and the application of safer speeds and support the target for roads carrying more than 80% of travel to meet at least three-stars or better rating for all road users by 2030.

In addition, Aurecon, Transurban, Anditi, Safe System Solutions, Wallbridge Gilbert Aztec (WGA), the Queensland University of Technology’s Centre for Accident Research and Road Safety – Queensland (CARRS-Q), and Safer Australian Roads and Highways (SARAH), have signed the pledge online, leading the charge for more organisations to follow.

The pledging organisations lead in all roles tackling road safety in the country including Australian and New Zealand transport agencies at all levels of government; the peak membership association for road safety professionals; one of the world’s largest toll road operators; and specialist organisations in engineering, design and training, geospatial data analysis, research, and advocacy.

As mechanisms to drive better safety outcomes, use of AusRAP and other risk-based assessment tools, as well as road safety audits, contribute to achieving national as well as specific state or territory fatality and serious injury reduction goals.

The pledge reinforces AusRAP’s commitment to maximising road safety trauma reduction. It aligns with the National Road Safety Strategy 2021-30, which aims to halve road deaths and reduce serious injuries by at least 30% by 2030. Furthermore, it supports the Global Plan for the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021-2030.

“Every week in Australia 25 people die and 770 are seriously injured. This level of trauma is unacceptable. Safer roads will play a significant role in reducing this amount of harm in our communities and that is why we commit to the use of AusRAP and other risk based assessment tools to achieve the national target that at least 80% of travel occurs on roads with a 3-star or equivalent rating or higher by 2030,” said Geoff Allan, Austroads Chief Executive.

AusRAP and other risk-based assessments, as well as road safety audits play a crucial role in achieving road safety targets. They provide road authorities with the tools to systematically and proactively evaluate road safety, enabling the development and prioritisation of treatment plans that will enhance safety for all road users.

“Our pledge today supports the transformation of Australian road safety. With just five years remaining to halve the number of deaths on our roads and meet the targets set in the National Road Safety Strategy, the urgency for action is greater than ever,” said Mr Allan.

The pledge is part of the initiative by iRAP, the International Road Federation and the FIA Foundation calling on organisations involved in designing and financing roads to pledge their commitment to safer roads. The AusRAP pledge, along with many others from around the world, will be presented to the world’s road safety leaders in February 2025, at the 4th Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety in Marrakech, Morrocco.

The AusRAP Pledge was signed at the Opening Ceremony of the 2024 Australasian Road Safety Conference, held in Hobart. The Conference brings together leading road safety and injury prevention researchers, practitioners and policy makers in the region.

ATTRIBUTABLE QUOTES

Australasian College of Road Safety (ACRS), Dr Ingrid Johnston, Chief Executive Officer: No one should be killed or seriously injured on our roads. Our pledge today is a commitment of support for the existing roads carrying more than 80% of travel to be 3 star or equivalent rating or better for all road users by 2030. Improving road safety does not always need to rely on massive capital investment and lengthy road projects. We know reducing speeds will save lives and this can be applied overnight. There is no time to lose.

International Road Assessment Programme (iRAP), Rob McInerney, Chief Executive Officer: Globally, more than 3,200 people are killed on the roads every day. Road crashes are the leading cause of death for young people aged 5-29 around the world. Today’s pledge in support of the Australian National Road Safety Strategy is also a statement of support for the Global Plan for the Decade of Action on Road Safety 2021-30. We know road infrastructure rated 3 stars or better for safety saves lives and prevents injuries. We have only 5 years left in this decade of action to make a difference, to halve the number of deaths and injuries on our roads.

National Transport Research Organisation (NTRO), Dr Richard Yeo, Chief Operating Officer: Safety of our roads is critical to reducing the number of people killed and seriously injured each year. Road trauma leaves lasting physical and psychological impacts that undermine the health of our society and our economy. We stand for safer roads that will enable more sustainable mobility for all road users and we commit our support to the objectives of the National Road Safety Strategy 2021-30.

Austroads members are the Australian and New Zealand transport agencies, representing all levels of government:

• Transport for New South Wales
• Department of Transport and Planning Victoria
• Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads
• Main Roads Western Australia
• Department for Infrastructure and Transport South Australia
• Department of State Growth Tasmania
• Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics Northern Territory
• Transport Canberra and City Services Directorate, Australian Capital Territory
• Commonwealth Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts
• Australian Local Government Association
• NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi

ABOUT AUSRAP

The Australian Road Assessment Program, or AusRAP, is coordinating and assisting jurisdictions and local government to maximise road safety trauma reduction by their management of, and investment in, Australian roads. The AusRAP Strategy and Business Plan outlines the program’s goal to achieve at least 80% of travel on 3-star or better roads in the country by 2030. AusRAP is the Australian version of the international Road Assessment Program (iRAP). It was introduced into Australia by the Australian Automobile Association in 2000, with responsibility for program management transferred to Austroads in 2021. As at July, AusRAP partners have assessed 562,286km of roads and designs, and two schools, influencing the safety of US$20.5 billion of road infrastructure investment, including a national $3 billion Safer Roads Programme which includes targets for 3-star or better performance. Star Rating policy targets are in place in 14 national and state policy documents including the 2021-2030 Australian National Road Safety Strategy, 2023-2025 Australian National Road Safety Action Plan, South Australian Road Safety Strategy to 2031, New South Wales Road Safety Plan, Victorian Road Safety Plan 2021-2023, and 2021 Australian Government Remote Roads Upgrade Pilot Programme Guidelines, helping to inform the safety of billions of dollars of road upgrade investment. National partners are leading Artificial Intelligence based assessments (AiRAP) and NTRO is one of 11 iRAP Centres of Excellence helping to shape the evidence-based global road infrastructure safety standard and tools. 3,600 people trained in events delivered locally, along with 678 people who have benefited from iRAP global/on-line training.
https://austroads.com.au/safety-and-design/road-safety/ausrap