Output Group 2
LAND TRANSPORT SAFETY PROGRAMS
This Output Group covers the work of the Department in promoting the safe and efficient movement of all traffic - including pedestrian, bicycle, vehicular and rail - within the Tasmanian land transport system.
The main outputs within the Group relate to:
safety interventions on the road network;
road safety education through community programs;
school-based education programs, advertising and intervention campaigns;
the administration and registration of vehicles;
appropriate standards and licensing of drivers and motorcycle riders;
traffic regulations; and
management of heavy vehicles and public vehicles.
The Output Group reflects the Department's statutory responsibilities for maintaining a safe and efficient transport system.
This Output Group directly contributes to the Agency's Outcome of a safe transport system.
Key clients
The clients for this Output Group are all the users of Tasmania's land transport system.
How this Output Group is delivered
The Outputs are essentially provided by Departmental staff, with external providers being used as required.
Achievements Against Strategies Identified for 2002/2003
ROAD SAFETY OPERATIONS
Older Driver Handbook
In November 2002 the second edition of the Tasmanian Older Drivers' Handbook was produced. The revised Handbook now includes information about buying a new car with a view to improving safety, and includes a range of available vehicle safety features. A new section, Retiring from Driving, includes information about licensing for seniors and how to prepare for giving up driving without giving up independence and mobility.
The Handbook, which has been produced for drivers over the age of 65, aims to increase the safety of older drivers on the road. It includes practical hints for safer driving, a range of information about health problems, medicines and drugs, the use of alcohol, car maintenance and purchase, and a questionnaire to assist in self-assessment of driving ability. Distribution of the Handbook is supplemented by Older Driver Safety Seminars, which are held in various regions around the State.
Older Driver Seminars
Older Driver Safety Seminars are conducted to supplement the Tasmanian Older Drivers' Handbook and promote safer driving among those aged 65 or over. The program covers the content of the Tasmanian Older Drivers' Handbook and helps seniors assess their own driving ability, as well as providing current information about road rules and advice to assist older drivers to maintain mobility and drive safely. Four-hour sessions are provided to senior groups or organisations on request.
In conjunction with the Department of Veterans' Affairs, renewed interest has been displayed in the Older Driver Safety Seminars during 2003 with several presentations programmed during the second half of the year.
Alicia O'Connor Memorial Road Safety Award
The 2002 Alicia O'Connor Award attracted many high quality entries, from schools and individual community members. The 2003 Award was launched this year at Launceston College with assistance from the Road Safety Task Force. Entries target young people between the ages of 15 and 25, challenging them to produce a media piece depicting a road safety message they feel is relevant to their peers. To highlight the Award and reach more community members, Red Herring Surf is helping promote the Award to young patrons.
Keys Please Seminars for Learner Drivers and Their Supervisors
In 2002/2003 Road Safety Consultants conducted a number of Keys Please seminars at various locations around the State. The seminars reflected a change in focus, which saw students offered the chance to sit for their Learners Licence after viewing the multi-media presentation. The sessions target learner drivers and their supervisors with the aim of educating the supervisor to provide a learning environment that allows the learner to experience a wide range of conditions and to assist them and the learner driver to develop a relationship that maximises learning outcomes. Topics covered include: why young drivers are at risk; the effects of alcohol, speed, fatigue and poor concentration; how road trauma affects people's lives; and the complexities of the driving task.
Prescribed First Year Offenders' Courses
Over the past 12 months the Road Safety Operations Branch has conducted 42 Prescribed First Year Offenders' Courses across the state. Sixteen of these courses have been held in Launceston, 22 in the North-West and 4 in Hobart. The courses are for first year drivers convicted of drink driving offences. Individuals attending the courses are referred by magistrates and a satisfactory standard of participation is a condition of licence reissue.
While the courses have traditionally been delivered to groups of drink driving offenders, run over four sessions and involved participation from Police and health professionals, recent times have seen the courses restructured to generally involve a single two-hour session conducted solely by the Department. Furthermore, these two-hour sessions are now generally conducted with individuals or very small groups.
Content covered is determined by the Road Safety Consultant, but is often based on the document entitled Alcohol and Your Responsibilities as a Driver. Topics revolve around examining the legal and driver's licence requirements pertaining to blood alcohol concentration when driving, consequences of drink driving, responsible consumption of alcohol and strategies for avoiding drink driving.
Pre Driver Awareness
The Department employs seven consultants: two in the north-west, two in the north and three in the south. The bulk of the consultants' work involves working with teachers to help deliver the Pre Driver Awareness Program to Year 10 students in about 90% of Tasmanian secondary schools. Schools have embraced the program as they recognise the relevance of the course.
The Pre Driver Awareness Program places emphasis on the development of safe driving attitudes as well as providing safe driving tips. The causes and consequences of road crashes, and the fact that 17-25 year olds have been over-represented in crashes are highlighted. Consultants provide students with expert information on road rules and the theory principles of defensive driving. A variety of teaching techniques is used. A test is conducted at the end of the course.
Recently changes to the licensing system have been introduced. Due to their face-to-face interaction, Road Safety Consultants play a key role in educating our future drivers about these amendments.
Cara Johnston - Road Safety Speaker
The Department and the Road Safety Task Force were responsible for organising the visit of international road safety speaker Cara Johnston. Her message, which focuses on risk taking and positive ways to overcome difficult situations, is inspired by the death of her identical twin sister in a high-speed motor vehicle crash after their 18th birthday. In two days Cara Johnston spoke to well over 1500 Year 10 and secondary college students from the south and north of the state. The Department expects to continue organising her visits to students and those at risk on Tasmanian roads.
POLICY
Introduction of Compulsory Carriage of Driver Licences
Compulsory carriage and production of a driver licence became law in Tasmania for all drivers from 1 December 2002. An amnesty period to 1 March 2003 allowed drivers to get used to the new law and to get into the habit of carrying their licence with them when they drive. Police reported that during the amnesty period compliance with, and awareness of, the new law was generally high.
Since 1 March drivers who fail to carry and produce their driver licence when requested could face a fine of $50. However, police have the ability to issue a caution where licensed drivers may have genuinely forgotten to carry their licence. The contribution that this new law makes to overall road safety will be measured when sufficient information is available.
In January 2003, ten thousand drivers were asked to produce their licence while police were conducting random breath tests. In most areas, 98% of drivers were able to produce their licence when requested.
Implementation/Development of National Reforms
DIER is actively involved in the development, by the National Road Transport Commission (NRTC) in consultation with all jurisdictions, of the Performance Based Standards (PBS) system for heavy vehicles. This project will provide an optional system, which will determine what a vehicle can do, subject to meeting predetermined safety and environmental conditions, rather than what it should look like. The scheme allows for significant flexibility in how outcomes are achieved. To date, significant progress has been made in defining the required operations standards of vehicles, together with the performance requirements of the associated road network.
Regulated limits on bus and truck driving hours were introduced in Tasmania in 1996. Nationally, the NRTC has been working closely with all jurisdictions in the development of the Fatigue Management Reform, as part of the Third Heavy Vehicle Reform Package. This major reform recognises that sleep is the key ingredient of a new plan for better fatigue management in the heavy vehicle industry. The focus is on creating the opportunity for sleep, shifting the emphasis for fatigue management to management practices and control over fatigue precursors, and achieving consistency with an occupational health and safety approach to such issues. DIER has worked with other jurisdictions to develop this package which will shortly be submitted to Australia's Transport Ministers for policy consideration.
The NRTC recently released a draft Compliance and Enforcement Bill for public comment. This Bill, which is a major component of the Third Heavy Vehicle Reform Package, provides authorised officers with extensive powers, while recognising the need to balance these powers to improve compliance and enforcement with the right to privacy and the right to conduct one's business without the undue influence of, or scrutiny from, government.
The Bill also introduces the "chain of responsibility" concept. This enables those parties with responsibility for activities that affect road transport compliance to be held accountable for failing to discharge that responsibility. DIER has been closely involved in the development of the draft legislation that will shortly be submitted to Australia's Transport Ministers for consideration.
Development of an Integrated Speed Management Framework
Development of an integrated speed management strategy for managing speed in Tasmania, including a review of speed zoning practices, is under way. To date a project plan has been prepared and the first stage of public consultation has been completed. Stakeholder consultation and research and data collection have begun.
Motorcycle Safety Strategy
The Department is currently developing a coordinated strategy for motorcycle safety that will cover training and licensing, education, enforcement, publicity and promotion and any other regulatory requirements. A project plan has been prepared and community consultation begun. Research is ongoing.
COMMUNITY AWARENESS ACTIVITIES
The Tasmanian Road Safety Council (TRSC)
The TRSC, the peak road safety body in Tasmania, provides an opportunity for the community and key stakeholders to have input into road safety in Tasmania. It meets with local community members and organisations to better understand road safety issues at the local level.
To assist in this, the TRSC holds meetings around the state which it invites local representatives to attend. Invitations are generally issued to local government, education, business and community representatives. Additionally meetings are advertised in local newspapers and public notices are placed in the meeting locality inviting interested individuals to attend.
TRSC meetings have been held in Devonport, Hobart, Burnie, Campbell Town, Cygnet, Ulverstone, New Norfolk, Hobart, Swansea, Queenstown, George Town, Scottsdale, Bicheno, Launceston, Smithton, Bothwell, Deloraine, Moonah, Bruny Island, Richmond and Sorell.
The TRSC is currently undertaking extensive community consultation for two road safety initiatives: a review of speed management and speed zoning in Tasmania, and the development of a motorcycle safety strategy.
Road Safety Consultative Committee (RSCC)
The RSCC has been established to provide a forum for the wide range of organisations with an interest in road safety to contribute to the road safety debate. The RSCC meets on a quarterly basis. It provides Government, through the Tasmanian Road Safety Council, with comment on road safety issues affecting specific road user groups, and provides community organisations with a conduit to receive a response from Government on road safety issues raised. The role of the RSCC is currently under review.
Road Safety Task Force (RSTF)
The role of the RSTF is to develop, implement and monitor an integrated public education and enforcement program aimed at decreasing the number of fatalities and the number and severity of injuries on Tasmanian roads. This is achieved with funding from the Motor Accidents Insurance Board (MAIB) to a total of $2.25 million annually between January 2003 and December 2005.
The RSTF is primarily involved in public education and traffic enforcement activities. The primary focus of the public education (advertising) campaign is driver behaviour, including speed, drink driving, inattention/fatigue and seatbelt compliance.
Secondary areas of activity include road safety for tourists visiting the State, driver reviver and vulnerable road user safety, among others. Activities in these areas are generally funded via corporate sponsorship and/or partnership arrangements.
PEOPLE KILLED OR INJURED IN ROAD CRASHES IN TASMANIA 1995 TO 2002
| Severity | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 200 | 2001 | 2002 |
| FATALITIES | ||||||||
| Drivers | 27 | 36 | 17 | 24 | 27 | 18 | 27 | 16 |
| Passengers | 12 | 17 | 10 | 10 | 17 | 11 | 16 | 4 |
| Pedestrians | 8 | 8 | 0 | 8 | 5 | 9 | 10 | 6 |
| Motorcyclists | 7 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 10 |
| Pedal Cylists | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Sub-total | 56 | 64 | 32 | 48 | 53 | 43 | 61 | 36 |
| SERIOUS INJURIES | ||||||||
| Drivers | 242 | 204 | 184 | 187 | 206 | 230 | 198 | 225 |
| Passengers | 164 | 117 | 119 | 114 | 157 | 152 |
123 |
68 |
| Pedestrians | 52 | 62 | 52 | 60 | 53 | 47 | 43 | 45 |
| Motorcyclists | 61 | 44 | 48 | 50 | 60 | 75 | 93 | 74 |
| Pedal Cylists | 17 | 22 | 23 | 27 | 17 | 12 | 13 | 9 |
| Sub-total | 536 | 449 | 426 | 438 | 493 | 516 | 470 | 421 |
| MINOR INJURIES | ||||||||
| Drivers | 659 | 645 | 568 | 801 | 745 | 777 | 702 | 748 |
| Passengers | 429 | 362 | 369 | 427 | 460 | 399 | 383 | 378 |
| Pedestrians | 87 | 105 | 65 | 114 | 104 | 101 | 105 | 117 |
| Motorcyclists | 70 | 61 | 79 | 121 | 101 | 144 | 102 | 116 |
| Pedal Cylists | 37 | 37 | 45 | 42 | 52 | 52 | 38 | 46 |
| Sub-total | 1,282 | 1,210 | 1,126 | 1,515 | 1,462 | 1,459 | 1,328 | 1,405 |
| TOTAL | 1,874 | 1,723 | 1,584 | 2,001 | 2,008 | 2,018 | 1,859 | 1,862 |
Source: Traffic Accidents Database at 11 July 2003.
Note: A small number of cases with incomplete data have been excluded from analyses.
AGE AND GENDER OF ROAD-USERS KILLED OR INJURED IN ROAD CRASHES IN TASMANIA 1995 TO 2002
| Road-users killed | Road-users injured | |||||||||||||||
| Category | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 |
| MALE under 17 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 147 | 122 | 134 | 150 | 169 | 156 | 148 | 128 |
| MALE 17-29 | 18 | 19 | 8 | 13 | 11 | 14 | 11 | 6 | 449 | 390 | 331 | 423 | 443 | 421 | 420 | 403 |
| MALE 30-64 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 15 | 9 | 22 | 11 | 208 | 291 | 293 | 384 | 358 | 416 | 367 | 393 |
| MALE over 64 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 7 | 2 | 68 | 66 | 83 | 87 | 70 | 68 | 71 | 67 |
| TOTAL MALE | 39 | 38 | 23 | 32 | 35 | 33 | 45 | 22 | 972 | 869 | 841 | 1044 | 1040 | 1061 | 1006 | 991 |
| FEMALE UNDER 17 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 102 | 93 | 112 | 104 | 128 | 146 | 121 | 116 |
| FEMALE 17-29 | 4 | 7 | 4 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 313 | 294 | 255 | 344 | 370 | 312 | 310 | 302 |
| FEMALE 30-64 | 4 | 8 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 9 | 9 | 306 | 398 | 272 | 355 | 350 | 407 | 312 | 359 |
| FEMALE OVER 64 | 9 | 8 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 84 | 70 | 77 | 99 | 85 | 81 | 91 | 71 |
| TOTAL FEMALE | 17 | 26 | 9 | 16 | 18 | 10 | 16 | 14 | 805 | 755 | 716 | 902 | 933 | 946 | 834 | 848 |
| OVERALL TOTAL | 56 | 64 | 32 | 48 | 53 | 43 | 61 | 36 | 1777 | 1624 | 1557 | 1946 | 1973 | 2007 | 1840 | 1839 |
Source: Traffic Accidents Database at 22 July 2002.
Note: A small number of cases with incomplete data have been excluded from analyses.
REDEVELOPMENT OF MOTOR REGISTRY SYSTEM
The Motor Registry System Project was established to develop a Business Case for the redevelopment of the existing Motor Registry System (MRS). This system is one of the most critical for the Government.
The Business Case was completed in February 2003, following extensive consultation with stakeholders. The development of the Business Case also involved detailed examination of other States' Motor Registry System redevelopment activities, in order to identify possible synergies.
The Business Case was submitted as part of the Budget process and funding of $6.5 million was allocated to cover the first three years' activity.
Redevelopment of the MRS is an opportunity to implement a development approach to Government infrastructure and business, which recognises that the MRS is not just a Department of Infrastructure, Energy and Resources system, but one on which other Government departments depend and can use to improve efficiency and service to customers.
REGISTRATION AND LICENSING
During 2002/03, the Registration and Licensing Branch has continued to develop its series of key strategies designed to deliver business more efficiently in an effort to maximise road safety outcomes for the Tasmanian community.
Novice Driver Reforms
As an innovative approach to improving the capabilities of novice drivers, the Reforms have seen the introduction of logbooks, requiring learner drivers to obtain 50 hours of supervised driving experience recorded in an auditable logbook over a minimum of six months. A new version of the Learner Driver Handbook (incorporating the Logbook) was released after an extensive review.
A new web-based road rules knowledge test for car learner licence applicants, largely designed and developed by the Department, has been introduced. It includes modern interactive multi-media features, with questions being randomly selected for each test. A practice test will soon be available on the Transport website.
The next reforms include a new on-road competency-based practical driving test, and nationally accredited qualifications for testing officers and driving instructors. In preparation for the new driving test all car learner licence holders were sent an explanatory brochure. Support materials for the new test (Competency Standards for Car Drivers and Preparing for Your Driving Test) are on the Transport website. A Supervisory Driver Handbook will be available on the website and for sale. A user-friendly Road Rules Handbook is under design, relying more on diagrammatic explanations. Also under development is a hazard perception test.
Unregistered/Uninsured Vehicles
Reducing the number of unregistered and uninsured vehicles on Tasmanian roads, improving the efficiency and effectiveness of enforcement activity, and reducing the incidents of the re-birthing of written-off vehicles were all high priorities for the Department.
The Department, in collaboration with its key partner, the MAIB, initiated the Unregistered and Uninsured Project to address concerns about the number of unregistered and uninsured vehicles and the potential risks these pose to the Tasmanian community.
The employment of two additional Transport Inspectors to undertake minimum weekly roadside checks and on-road blitzes has continued. In addition to this, the project has introduced CARMEN©, the latest technology in roadside numberplate recognition, which can detect an unregistered/uninsured vehicle within 1/5th of a second. CARMEN© is an effective deterrent in the effort to reduce the number of unregistered/uninsured vehicles on Tasmanian roads, providing strategic targeting of vehicles of interest. Tasmania is the only Sate currently using this technology, made available through the ongoing contributions of key partners like MAIB.
The Written-Off Vehicle Register is a nationwide initiative developed by the National Motor Vehicle Theft Reduction Council in conjunction with all jurisdictions. The Register is a nationally coordinated database of vehicles assessed as written-off, aimed at preventing the re-birthing of stolen vehicles. Similarly, the Department has substantially developed a link with CrimTrac, a national database dealing with stolen and recovered vehicles used by state-based Police departments. This project involves collecting information from both Tasmania Police and Registration and Licensing data and sending it in real time to CrimTrac. This will provide Tasmania Police with access to accurate and current information about stolen vehicles anywhere in Australia.
Business Improvements and Service Delivery
Business improvement and service delivery remain high on the agenda. In 2002/2003, the Department began work on the Business Process Review Project. The outcomes are expected to result in increased efficiencies in the administration of registration and licensing activities. The initial phase, now complete, consisted of mapping, reviewing, refining and re-engineering existing processes and consulting with relevant stakeholders and other jurisdictions.
Phase two, expected in 2003/2004, will see the implementation of the recommendations contained in the report.
In addition to this work, the Department has been working in collaboration with the Department of Premier and Cabinet (DPAC) in instituting a review of a number of projects that qualify for their Identification of Electronic and Additional Services (IDEAS) Program.
The first identified project involves trialling electronic messaging of birth certificate details, which will allow customers at Service Tasmania to authorise the transfer of their birth certificate details electronically. This will provide efficiencies for the evidence of identity process.
Motor vehicle, caravan, trailer and motorcycle dealers who have new vehicle franchises are able to act as agents of the Registrar of Motor Vehicles for the purpose of registering new vehicles, as a result of the introduction of the Dealer Registration Scheme. Following a request by the Motor Trades Association (MTA) that their member Dealers have the capacity to register new vehicles via an Internet web-site, the Department developed an appropriate site in collaboration with this key partner. Available now, these Dealers can now issue registration plates and certification of registration at the time of sale of a vehicle.
Digital licences were introduced in November 2001. The next stage of this initiative is to introduce instant issue of licences in major Service Tasmania centres. Instant issue will enable a digital licence to be produced over the counter, thereby eliminating the process where licences are sent via mail. Extensive testing is now in the final stages and implementation will occur early in the 2003/2004 financial year.
To ensure appropriate access and security to Motor Registry System (MRS) data, the Department has negotiated Service Level Agreements and Memoranda of Understanding with key stakeholders, including Police, Bureau of Statistics and MAIB. This ongoing commitment gives these clients assurance that they can access data within the terms and conditions of these agreements. These agreements are reviewed frequently to ensure access to MRS is in line with changing business requirements.
The Registrar of Motor Vehicles is required to perform a number of functions and exercise a number of powers, principally regarding the registration of motor vehicles and issue of driver licences. There are over 600 separate functions or powers of the Registrar spread across eight Acts and Regulations. Less than 60 of these are retained solely by the Registrar, with the remainder the subject of delegations to other persons. In total, there are about 3700 delegations.
An extensive review has recently been completed of the delegations and the process surrounding them. As well as providing instruments of delegation, the process will now be supported with explanatory materials on the meaning of delegation, and precisely what each delegation incorporates.
The Department continues its active involvement in the National Road Transport Commission project (National Review of Medical Standards - Assessing Fitness to Drive) which reviewed the medical standards for commercial and private drivers. The standards are now contained in a single publication with clear statements covering the responsibilities (drivers, licensing authorities, examining doctors) in the licensing process, and legal and ethical issues.
The standards reflect advances in medical science that may aid licence retention, and new administrative processes take into consideration privacy and health records legislation. The Branch accepted the invitation of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians to present a driver licensing authority's perspective on fitness to drive to the 2003 May Scientific Conference.
The issue of a driver licence is a high-risk transaction, due in part to the heavy reliance placed on it by the community and agencies as a de facto "identity" document. A licence issued to a fictitious or stolen identity can be used to commit general fraud and to evade sanctions. The Department led the national review of the 1999 NRTC's guidelines to strengthen the identification process. These revised draft requirements will add more rigour to the integrity of both the initial and ongoing transactions, and are expected to be signed-off nationally in the near future.
Transport Enquiry Service
The Transport Enquiry Service provides advice to a range of clients on registration and licensing matters, including support in relation to Vehicle Operations and Passenger Transport issues. The Service, which is located at 10 Murray Street, Hobart, receives, on average, some 800 - 1,000 calls a day.
Licensed Drivers in Tasmania
| Class of Licence | As at 30 June 2003 |
| Learner | 12,348 |
| Provisional | 16,821 |
| Full | 298,894 |
Current Tasmanian Registrations
| Vehicle Type | As at 30 June 2003 |
| Cars and Station Wagons | 254,325 |
| Motor Cycles | 8,550 |
| Trailers and Caravans | 78,431 |
| Others | 94,623 |
TRAFFIC STANDARDS
50 km/h General Urban Speed Limit
The introduction of the 50 km/h general urban speed limit has resulted in a reduction in vehicle travel speeds in urban streets. While the initial speed reduction on streets where the speed limit was reduced to 50 km/h is encouraging, further on-going speed reduction by drivers is expected. "Before" and "after" vehicle speed data was collected. Analysis has found a flow-on effect has occurred on the streets that retained a 60 km/h speed limit, with a reduction in travel speed having also been achieved on these streets.
At the request of various stakeholders, the Department recently reviewed the speed limit along numerous urban streets and as a consequence has reduced the speed limit on a number of streets from 60 km/h to 50 km/h.
Management of Federal Government Black Spot Program
The National Black Spot Program is designed to reduce road trauma by targeting sites with a poor casualty crash history and providing a cost effective road safety treatment. The program also recognises that there are road locations that could be considered as "accidents waiting to happen" and these sites are assessed and treated using a safety audit methodology.
Some 28 sites on State and local roads have been funded this financial year. The Department is focusing on developing a further program of cost-effective road safety treatments for the 2003/2004 Federal Government funding allocation and they are being developed in conjunction with the road owners.
Code of Practice at Work Sites
After consultation with all relevant stakeholders, a Tasmanian Code of Practice for Traffic Control at Work Sites was issued to all road owners and prescribed authorities in July 2002. During the year the Department has had to address extensive inquiry regarding the Code's content, clarification of its requirements and advice on personnel training. In the last 12 months the Code has resulted in increased awareness of signing requirements and a general improvement in traffic control practices.
Wildlife Signing
In the last decade there have been numerous signs erected on Tasmanian roads depicting various forms of wildlife and other animals. In order to curb the proliferation of different signage and provide a more consistent signing practice to address wildlife roadkill problems in Tasmania, a new generic traffic sign was developed in consultation with the Department of Primary Industries, Water and Environment. The warning signs are being trialled at a number of locations across Tasmania. It is intended that eventually the signs will be used at well-defined problem roadkill sites identified by the Parks and Wildlife Service. It is expected the signs will raise greater awareness of the unique problem that Tasmania has with its wildlife, leading to more alertness on the roads for the benefit and safety of road users.
School Speed Zone Enhancement
Over the past three years the Department has progressively replaced the old standard school speed zone signs with new signs that comply with Australian Standards. These new signs are larger than those previously used and incorporate the regulatory 40 km/h speed limit with a time specific legend and words indicating the presence of a school zone. The signs are now in place at about 210 schools across Tasmania.
School Traffic Control Facilities Document
In 1995 the Department formed a School Crossing Safety Committee (SCSC) to review the guidelines and criteria concerning the safety of children within the school environment. Over the past three years the criteria were applied to all schools in the State, mainly in the provision of the new standard school speed zone signs. However, the outcomes with this were not to the satisfaction of some school communities.
Consequently, to ensure that the community concerns were fully addressed, it was decided to re-convene the SCSC to:
identify all relevant issues;
review the range of traffic control measures available for student pedestrian protection, including warrants and guidelines used in other States; and
provide a code of practice, which can be applied consistently across the State.
The SCSC consists of representatives from School Parents and Friends Associations, Catholic Education Office, Association of Independent Schools, School Principal Associations, Tasmania Police, Royal Automobile Club of Tasmania and the Department.
The Committee met in August and October 2002 and, as a result of the meetings, a School Traffic Control Facilities document has been produced. The members of the SCSC have now endorsed the content of the document.
Although there were no major changes to the existing guidelines, one of the main issues raised was the extension of the school speed zone operating times from 3.30 pm to 4.00 pm to consistently cover school finish times Statewide.
The recommendation of the document will be implemented over the next financial year.
VEHICLE OPERATIONS
Improved Communication and Consultation with Clients
The Department has developed a new style newsletter that is distributed to heavy goods transport operators. Additional work has been done to have more regular meetings with transport industry groups to discuss road safety issues surrounding the operation of heavy goods vehicles.
Work has almost been finalised to enable the release of national heavy vehicle inspection guidelines that will improve industry knowledge of vehicle inspections. The Department had displays at shows such as Agfest to promote awareness in standards and safety.
Introduction of Transport Operator Accreditation
Mass Management accreditation, which is part of the National Heavy Vehicle Accreditation Scheme, was introduced on 1 December 2002. There has been an excellent response with over 100 heavy vehicle transport operators becoming accredited.
Passenger Transport Accreditation is well advanced with many operators undertaking their first round of audits before the end of the financial year.
Enforcement Strategy for Road Transport in Tasmania
A new nationally consistent weighing adjustment system was introduced on 1 March 2003.
Data gathered from accident reports is being used to help review the current enforcement strategy to ensure the best road safety outcomes. There will be a greater focus of enforcement to help reduce accidents associated with driver fatigue and vehicle maintenance.
As from 1 January 2003 there have been fleet call-ins of heavy vehicles where strong evidence of poor maintenance is available.
Gazette Notices
All existing general permits were redrafted into a Gazette notice. This provides a more formal basis for the exemption system for high productivity vehicles and is accessible via the internet. There has been ongoing work and updating of Gazette notices in regard to high productivity vehicles.
Crash Reporting
In December 2002 a new accident reporting process was introduced to support better analysis of crashes attended by Transport Inspectors and enable the introduction of road safety strategies.
STATISTICAL RESULTS
NB: Figures from 2000/2001 separate out standard checks from those specifically for roadworthiness and unregistered vehicles (shown in brackets).
| Year | 1999/2000 | 2000/2001 | 2001/2002 | 2002/2003 |
| Total roadside checks | 47,877 | 33,777 | 42,918 | 40,091 |
| Total defect orders | 6,244 | 5,974 | 7,048 | 5,893 |
| % Defective | 11.58 | 17.69 | 16.42 | 14.70 |
| Number of registered vehicles under 4.5t | 395,163 | 388,433 | 393,327 | 406,258 |
| Roadside checks | 39,035 | 23,005 | 26,645 | 23,887 |
| -111,308 | -120,005 | -147,333 | ||
| % vehicles inspected | 9.88 | 5.92 | 6.77 | 5.88 |
| -28.66 | -30.51 | -36.27 | ||
| Registered vehicles over 4.5 t | 14,093 | 13,341 | 13,195 | 13,445 |
| Roadside checks | 14,862 | 18,348 | 27,870 | 28,045 |
| -29,623 | -45,754 | -48,609 | ||
| % vehicles inspected | 105.46 | 1137.53 | 211.22 | 208.59 |
| -222.04 | -346.75 | -361.54 | ||
| Total vehicles | 409,256 | 401,774 | 406,522 | 419,703 |
| Total roadside checks* | 53,897 | 41,353 | 54,515 | 51,932 |
| -140,931 | -165,759 | -195,942 | ||
| % vehicles checked | 13.17 | 10.29 | 13.41 | 12.37 |
| -35.08 | -40.77 | -46.69 | ||
| Total weighings | 12,222 | 16,978 | 23,088 | 22,332 |
| Traffic Infringement Notices | 606 | 804 | 703 | 819 |
| % vehicles overweight | 4.96# | 4.74 | 3.04 | 3.67 |
| Total unregistered inspections | 96,176 | 105,142 | 136,599 | |
| Total Unregistered detected | 1,490 | 1,399 | 1,127 | |
| % unregistered | 1.55 | 1.33 | 0.83 |
* Includes trailers
# This figure has dropped following implementation of higher mass limits
