This week the ACRS, along with Women in Trucking Australia, hosted a road safety event at the Australian Parliament House. The afternoon was coordinated by the Parliamentary Friends of Road Safety co-chaired by Senator Glenn Sterle and Llew O’Brien MP and provided Members of Parliament, Senators and their advisors with the opportunity to meet with road safety experts.
ACRS President Professor (Em) Ann Williamson was MC for the event with presentations from Glenn Sterle on behalf of the Senator Carol Brown, Assistant Minister for Infrastructure and Transport; Tony Pasin MP, Shadow Assistant Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, behalf of the Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Senator Bridget McKenzie; Dr Ingrid Johnston, CEO of ACRS; Professor Jeremy Woolley, Director of the Centre for Automotive Safety; Julie Downey, Director of the Women in Trucking Australia; and Llew O’Brien MP wrapping up the afternoon.
Areas covered during the event included the current state of road trauma in Australia; the challenge in meeting the national target of reducing trauma by 50% by 2030; what needs to change to get to zero deaths and serious injuries on our roads; and the opportunities from the recommendations in the Driving Reform: final report for the Inquiry into Road Safety.
We thank the Parliamentary Friends of Road Safety, who coordinated the event, as well as all of the presenters. We also extend our thanks to the parliamentarians and advisors who attended along with the many ACRS leaders who contributed to the conversation.