Regional Road Safety Forum, Roma 2019

Summary and key themes

Date: Wednesday 28 August 2019

Place: Roma Explorers Inn, 44778 Warrego Highway, Roma

Background

On 28 August 2019, the Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) hosted a Regional Queensland Road Safety Stakeholder Event in Roma which focused on the key road safety issues affecting the Maranoa Region. The Honourable Mark Bailey MP, Minister for Transport and Main Roads, Andrew Mahon, General Manager (Land Transport Safety and Regulation) of TMR, and Mike Keating, Assistant Commissioner (Road Policing Command) of the Queensland Police Service were at the event. They engaged with 31 delegates representing community groups, local industry and government agencies.

Minister Bailey welcomed everyone in attendance and TMR staff delivered presentations on the next Queensland Road Safety Action Plan 2020-21 and local crash data, and Assistant Commissioner Mike Keating discussed community engagement and collaboration. Andrew Mahon then led a future focussed workshop where delegates contributed to discussion topics identifying the characteristics of road safety in the year 2030, external influences on achieving a model road safety environment and potential partners for delivering a safer future. Several notable themes emerged from the discussions. 

Where to from here

The Queensland Government sincerely thanks all participants for their time and input. The themes and ideas discussed during the forum support the next Queensland Road Safety Action Plan 2020-21 and inform the development of the next road safety strategy. Key themes, discussion points and a sample of specific ideas are outlined below.

Key themes

Note: The below summary aims to capture the key discussion themes raised by a range of participants at the forum and does not necessarily reflect the views of the Queensland Government or all participants.

Delegates had an opportunity to discuss what they considered to be the most pertinent road safety issues in their local area. More education and training, infrastructure improvements, vehicle technology advancements as well as cultural and behavioural changes were identified as key areas for improvement.

While greater road safety education and training was recommended across the board, several specific areas were also identified. Participants highlighted the need for education and/or training for:

• caravan drivers
• driving on unsealed roads
• driving to local conditions
• safe overtaking
• driving near first responders
• older and younger people
• when a person renews their licence.

To achieve this, delegates advised that the government should create partnerships with local groups, schools and children’s television programs to coordinate education and communication campaigns related to road safety. It was also recommended to use more advanced technology as education tools such as simulators.

Within the broader area of infrastructure, delegates saw an importance in planning for increases in freight, service and other vehicles in the region. They were interested in more overtaking lanes, speed limit signage, rest areas and wider shoulders along nearby routes. Additionally, there was a recommendation that electronic signage be used to display lower speed limits during times when the weather affects road conditions.

Delegates showed significant interest in how new vehicle technologies may improve road safety. Technology to limit speed, monitor fatigue and restrict vehicle movement unless seatbelts are engaged were solutions put forward. For heavy vehicle fleets, delegates recommended the increased use of Vehicle Management Systems and were optimistic at the safety benefits of automated heavy vehicles.

Delegates also stated that cultural and behavioural assumptions about road safety should be changed to provide better outcomes on the road. They recommended the government should work to change driver attitudes regarding speed, distraction and drink/drug driving as well as to view driving as a privilege rather than a right.

Ideas

The discussions generated a number of road safety ideas centring around increased education and training, licensing reforms and specific measures targeting younger road users and road users as they age. The ideas also support many of the actions to be presented within the next Queensland Road Safety Action Plan 2020-21. The Regional Road Safety forum in Roma is among the first in a series of consultation activities, designed to inform the development of the next Queensland road safety strategy.