The Australian Government initiated an inquiry into the National Road Safety Strategy 2011-2020 (NRSS) in 2017. On 12 September 2018 the National Road Safety Strategy 2011-2020 (NRSS) Inquiry panel provided its report to the Australian Government at Parliament House.
The inquiry focused on the current system's safety, while recognising that modal shifts in transport, urban planning, technology, data, users, usage and cultural factors can and will be important.
The inquiry delivered 12 recommendations that, if implemented, will help transform road safety performance across the nation. Two of the recommendations relating to local government were:
Recommendation 9: Invest in road safety focused infrastructure, safe system and mobility partnerships with state, territory and local governments that accelerate the elimination of high-risk roads.
Recommendation 10: Make road safety a genuine part of business as usual within Commonwealth, state, territory and local government.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Michael McCormack accepted the inquiry report during an event at Parliament House in Canberra and welcomed the report's 12 key recommendations.
He said the independent report would now be considered by the Australian government with a formal response provided in due course.
"Road safety is a shared responsibility and something which should unite all Australians," he said.
"The report reinforces why road safety must continue to be taken seriously by all stakeholders and that attitude is demonstrated through this Government's ongoing actions and investments in pursuing targeted, responsible improvements which can and do change peoples' lives."
The NRSS Inquiry report is available from www.roadsafety.gov.au.