Minister to take Queensland road safety agenda to national forum

Main Roads and Road Safety Minister Mark Bailey will join state and territory road safety ministers and key stakeholders in Perth today to discuss solutions to reduce serious crashes across the nation.

Mr Bailey, Queensland’s first ever road safety Minister, said he was looking forward to taking Queensland ideas and initiatives to the meeting.

“The Palaszczuk Government has made a commitment to the safety of every road user in our state and we have implemented a range of initiatives and strategies aimed at reducing serious crashes which result in death and injury,” Mr Bailey said.

“In August last year we launched the Queensland Road Safety Strategy 2015-21 and Action Plan 2015-17, which committed to an ambitious vision of zero deaths and serious injuries.

“We are challenging the perception that death is an acceptable, albeit tragic, consequence of using our roads. It isn’t – it is unnecessary and unacceptable and we aim to change that mindset.

“Under the action plan, we are investing more than $500 million in road safety programs in Queensland.

“This includes education, community engagement, social media and state-wide campaigns as well as grants to schools, community groups and councils through the Join the Drive to Safe Lives social change program.

“It also includes funding for infrastructure improvements, with 16 safety projects on the Bruce Highway completed costing more than $30 million and a Targeted Road Safety Program, in which we completed 200 projects costing more than $151 million.

“We brought in reforms to motorcycle licensing, double demerit points for two or more mobile phone offences in one year and enhanced the Q-SAFE practical driving test, and a logbook app to help learner drivers and supervisors.

“Since Easter 2015 we have held several road safety forums with community stakeholders including RACQ, Carrs-Q and Queensland Trucking Association, as well as our successful Co-Lab Youth Innovation Challenges in 2015 and 2016 where we have engaged directly with young drivers.

“To help protect our children we have also installed flashing lights in 181 school zones and have 100 more on track for this financial year.”

Mr Bailey said Queensland had many more examples of its commitment to safer roads that it can take to Perth.

“In appointing the state’s first dedicated road safety minister in 2015, this Government made a strong statement about its stance on this important issue,” Mr Bailey said.

“I am a strong supporter of collaboration and I thank the Australian Government for recognising road safety as a national priority.

“I look forward to taking Queensland’s road safety ideas to the national table in Perth and having a robust, positive discussion about how we can prevent serious crashes.”

ENDS

Media contact:          Zoe Russell - 0428 079 640