Land Transport Safety Programs
FTEs 170.35
Expenditure $19,357,000

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; and
school-based education programs and advertising and intervention campaigns.
The Output Group also reflects the Department's statutory responsibilities for maintaining a safe and efficient transport system. These responsibilities include the administration and registration of vehicles (with 414,419 vehicles on the Motor Registry computer database as at 30 June 2001), appropriate standards and licensing of drivers and motorcycle riders, traffic regulations, heavy vehicle loading requirements and public vehicle safety standards. 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 the land transport system.

How this Output Group is delivered
The Outputs are essentially provided by Departmental staff, with external providers being used as required.

ROAD SAFETY

Achievements Against Strategies Identified For 2000-2001
Development of the Tasmanian Road Safety Strategy
The Land Transport Safety Division is currently developing a Road Safety Strategy for Tasmania for 2001-2005. A discussion paper was developed and over 1000 copies distributed throughout the community as well as being made available on the Internet. Over 120 responses were received from business and private respondents, and in July 2001 the Tasmanian Road Safety Council released a summary of public responses. Preparation of the strategy is currently under way, and it is anticipated that it will be released in October 2001.

Implementation of Keys Please
During 2000 Keys Please, an interactive information session for learner drivers and their supervising drivers, was developed and a program implemented. Keys Please is aimed at learner drivers and their parents or guardians and encourages a partnership during the learner driver period to enable the young driver to gain extensive on-road driving experience in a wide range of conditions, including dry and wet weather, urban and rural roads, day and night driving while under the supervision and guidance of an experienced driver. Increased exposure to driving practice during the learner phase significantly decreases young driver accident risk. Keys Please supplements other initiatives in young driver safety, such as pre-driver awareness and novice driver licensing reform.

Development of the Tasmanian Older Driver Handbook
The Tasmanian Older Driver Handbook was launched in October 2000. Since then, over 12,000 copies have been distributed to older drivers through doctors' surgeries and direct mail with licence renewals, and the publication has been widely promoted through community newspapers. The Handbook is also available on the Internet. It was produced for drivers aged over 65 and aims to increase the safety of older drivers on the road. The Handbook 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.

Redevelopment of the Traffic Accident Database
Work began during 2000-01 on the redevelopment of the Traffic Accident Database (TAD), which will significantly improve the quality of traffic accident information collected in Tasmania. The improved database will provide a range of advantages to both internal and external stakeholders, including greater accessibility to information, the ability to interface with the Road Information Management System (RIMS) to enable linkage with other road-related information, the ability to conduct better analysis and provide more detailed and flexible reporting and provision for a wider scope of electronic data, such as traffic accident reports, diagrams, photos and videos. The new database will reduce reliance on manual holdings, improve efficiency and effectiveness of the system and associated business processes. The redevelopment of the database will also enhance opportunities for exchanging data nationally by ensuring adherence to standard definitions for accident type coding in line with other jurisdictions. Development of technical specifications and calling of tenders was completed in 2000-01, and implementation of system changes will begin in 2001-02.

Additional Achievements

Support to the Tasmanian Road Safety Council (TRSC)
The Tasmanian Road Safety Council is the principal road safety policy and consultative body in Tasmania, with a focus on legislative reform, input into national and state programs and high-risk road users. The TRSC includes road safety experts, key stakeholders and members of the broader community and is chaired by Mr Jim Cox, MHA. During 2000-01, the Council oversaw research and consultation leading to the recommendation of three key road safety strategies to Government:

Implementation of a 50km/h urban speed limit on non-arterial roads;
Introduction of mandatory loss of licence for excessive speeding offences; and
Introduction of reforms to Novice Driver Licensing.
Establishment of 15.25 - Tasmanian Youth Road Safety Group
15/25 was established as a result of recommendations arising from the Tasmanian Young Driver Summit held in April 2000. It is comprised of young people aged between 15 and 25 - the most at-risk group of road users in Tasmania. Participants have been drawn from a range of youth groups throughout Tasmania. 15/25 will report to Government through the Tasmanian Road Safety Council. The group has been established to ensure that the views of young people are considered by Government when decisions affecting their future are being made. It will be asked to comment on any proposed changes affecting young Tasmanian drivers, to raise issues affecting young driver safety and to liaise with youth in the broader community on road safety issues. Meetings have been held in the North-West and in Hobart.

Community Awareness Activities
Alicia O'Connor Memorial Road Safety Award
Tasmanian Road Safety Council - community consultation held in Ulverstone, New Norfolk, Summerhill, Hobart, Swansea, Queenstown and Burnie.
Circular Head Community Road Safety Committee
Older Driver Safety Seminars - held in various municipalities
Road safety tips for community newspapers
Road Safety editorial - provided to various community newspapers, workplace publications, magazines and RACT Motor News
Professional development workshops for teachers
Accident Statistics - Main findings for 2000
Looking at the overall year, the 43 fatalities in 2000 represented an 18.9% decrease on the 1999 level. Injury levels fell very slightly to be 1.0% below the 1999 level.
The injury figures show a substantial increase in motor cycle injuries (35.2%) and a fall in vehicle passenger injuries (11.5%).
At least 23.2% of fatalities and 8.5% of injuries were associated with blood alcohol levels exceeding 0.05.
The main causes of injury (as attributed by police at the time of the accident) were driver inattention, speed, failure to give way, and excessive alcohol.

Accident Statistics - Updates from last year's Annual Report figures
table width="90%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" Road safety Performance Indicators 19961997199819992000 Serious casualty crashes per 100 million vehicle-kilometres9.58.59.510.310.9 Serious casualty crashes per 100,000 population84.776.086.988.995.0 Road fatalities per 100 million vehicle-kilometres1.50.81.11.31.1 Road fatalities crashes per 100,000 population13.56.810.211.39.2 Persons hospitalised per 100 million vehicle-kilometres10.610.110.312.312.9 Persons hospitalised crashes per 100,000 population94.890.494.6106.3111.7 Social cost of serious casualty crashes per 100 million vehicle-kilometres ($million)2.42.12.42.62.7 Social cost of serious casualty crashes per 100,000 population ($million)21.018.922.023.52.7
SOURCE: Based upon data held by the Road Safety Branch, DIER
NOTES: (1) The performance indicators are calculated for calendar years
(2) 2000 figures are preliminary only. Official figures calculated as part of a national methodology, will be released later this year.
(3) Serious casualty crashes are defined as those in which at least one person has been killed or hospitalised.

Source: Traffic Accident Database as at 6 July 2000
Note: A small number of cases with incomplete data has been excluded from the analyses.

Source: Traffic Accidents Database at 1 August 2001.
Note: A small number of cases with incomplete data have been excluded from analyses.

Age and gender of road-users killed and injured

Source: Traffic Accidents Database at 1 August 2001.
Note: A small number of cases with incomplete data have been excluded from analyses.

REGISTRATION AND LICENSING
Achievements Against Strategies Identified For 2000-2001
Unregistered Uninsured Project
Benchmarks were set during September 2000, in consultation with the Motor Accidents Insurance Board (MAIB) for levels of unregistered vehicles, and targets are to be reviewed in September 2001. During 2000-2001, the following strategies were implemented:

Two additional Transport Inspectors conducted minimum weekly roadside checks and there were quarterly on-road blitzes;
Prescribed Local Government Officers issued Traffic Infringement Notices (TINs) for failure to display current registration labels;
Reminder letters were sent to to registered operators of unregistered vehicles after 30 days;
The Vehicle Inspection System (VIS) database was upgraded;
Information flyers were handed out by Transport Inspectors and Police to unregistered vehicle operators; and
Telephone reminders were made to operators of unregistered vehicles.
The MAIB has reported an increase in revenue from registrations for the 2000-2001 financial year. A forward strategy for 2001 - 2002 has been developed.

Periodic registration for light vehicles
In line with the Government's commitment to the introduction of periodic registration for light vehicles, the scheme was introduced on 1 July 2001.

Novice Drivers
A review of the learner and provisional licensing system in Tasmania was conducted on behalf of the Tasmanian Road Safety Council (TRSC). The TRSC's final report and recommendations for a Tasmania-appropriate novice driver licensing system were received by the Minister in April 2001. The TRSC's recommendations were based on extensive investigation, research and broad stakeholder and public consultation and have drawn acceptance from all key stakeholders.

Written-off Vehicle Register
As part of a national strategy to prevent the re-registration of stolen vehicles, work began on the development and implementation of a Written Off Vehicle Register. The project, which will be finalised in 2001-2002, will include legislative amendments, computer system changes and high-level inspection standards for vehicles that have been written off. The project will also provide for written-off vehicle information to be transmitted to the National Exchange of Vehicle and Driver Information System (NEVDIS) to reduce the risk of stolen Tasmanian vehicles being registered interstate.

Additional Achievements for 2000-2001
Digitised Licensing
A tender for the new digitised driver licensing system was let and the Department is currently working with the preferred tenderer to have the new system operational during 2001.

Relocation of Registration and Licensing Branch
November saw the Registration and Licensing Branch relocate from the old Motor Registry Building at 1 Collins Street, Hobart to the 4th floor, 188 Collins Street, Hobart. Staff have now settled into their new modern home.

Registration payments
Since April 2001 registration payments have been possible via the Internet.

Request for Changes
The formation of the Applications and Information Business Unit has greatly expanded the Registration and Licensing Branch's capacity to release requests for changes to the Motor Registry System. This is because of the incorporation of system documentation developed by the Unit and the vigorous testing of these changes. As a result, there have been more than 150 requests for changes since October 2000. These changes have been for business process improvements, improved data integrity and in support of legislative change and business initiatives.

Maintenance of the Motor Registry Computer System
A tender was let during 2000 - 2001 for the maintenance and application development of the Motor Registry System. This tender process is in its final stages of completion and will be implemented in 2001-2002 for a two-year period with the option to renew for a further two years.

Tenders
The following tenders were awarded during 2000 - 2001:

the production and distribution of number plates;
digitised licensing;
outsourcing of forms and delivery of these to agencies; and
production and personalisation of registration certificates and labels.
Community Awareness Activities
During the year Registration and Licensing Branch staff:

met with Parks and Wildlife officers at the Arthur River to discuss the use of restricted registration vehicles in the area;
attended a Neighbourhood Watch forum at Claremont to discuss off road motors, providing information regarding registration and licensing; and
held regular stakeholder meetings to both initiate and progress open communications between the Branch and stakeholders.
Licensed Drivers in Tasmania
Class of Licence As at 30 June 2001
Learner 13,876
Provisional 17,506
Full 291,258

Current Tasmanian Registrations
Vehicle Typee As at 30 June 2001
Cars and Station Wagons 245,403
Motor Cycles 8,310
Trailers and Caravans 72,368
Others 88,338 

TRAFFIC STANDARDS
Achievements Against Strategies Identified For 2000-2001
Introduction of Skating and Footpath Cycling Rules
The introduction of rules relating to skating and footpath cycling was deferred when the Australian Road Rules were introduced on 1 December 1999. Following this, the Tasmanian Skating Committee engaged a consultant to undertake a community consultation project and provide advice on road rules that should be considered for Tasmania. During the last twelve months the Committee's work has mainly focussed on the report's recommendations. Following ongoing widespread consultation with community groups and Local Government, the Committee recommended that a number of new road rules be introduced to Tasmania.

At the same time, the State Bicycle Advisory Committee undertook a community consultation project to determine whether footpath cycling could be safely introduced and whether there should be some restriction on the age group allowed to use footpaths.

The Government accepted the recommendations of both Committees and instigated a program of education and promotion of the new rules, which included the dissemination of Technical Advice Sheets to all councils, detailing the criteria under which a ban on footpath skating and cycling should be considered. This whole project culminated in the new road rules taking effect on 1 July 2001.

Management of Federal Government Black Spot Program
A rigorous process identified projects for the 2001-2002 financial year, which is the last year of the current program. The process included extensive consultation with all road owners in the State regarding improvements to high accident locations and solutions to perceived problem locations. This culminated in a meeting of the Tasmanian Black Spot Consultative Panel in April 2001 that recommended projects for consideration to the Federal Minister for Transport and Regional Services.

Additional Achievements For 2000-2001
Fatal Accidents
During the year the Traffic Standards Branch, as part of its independent auditor role, undertook an investigation of 30 fatal accidents. Investigations mainly focused on determining whether the road where the accident occurred had some deficiencies that could be rectified through immediate low cost traffic management improvements. Higher cost works are recommended to the road owner for future road improvement programs.

Speed Limits
The Traffic Standards Branch continued with its ongoing role of reviewing speed zones on Tasmanian roads brought to its attention by local communities. Investigations were mainly focused in semi-rural areas where sometimes there is difficulty in arriving at a balance between local amenity required by the residents and transport needs of regional traffic. In addition, work continued on the program of replacing school speed limit signs with larger and more easily understood Standard Australia signs. In the last 12 months some 35 schools were provided with new signs, bringing the total number of schools in the State with new signing to 70.

Technical Advice
As an expert traffic group, the Traffic Standards Branch is called on a daily basis to provide technical advice in terms of standards and practices relating to the management of the safe and efficient movement of traffic. Beyond this, an ongoing task includes the approval of traffic management schemes and the co-ordination and participation in road safety audits. Some of the more notable audits included the Arthur Highway, which has been the scene of a high number of fatal accidents during the year, Forestry roads such as the Plenty Valley Link Road, Arve Road and Styx Road, which are being considered for their tourist potential and the Bass Highway between Hagley and Deloraine, which is a $36 million major national highway project.

Community Awareness Activities
State Bike Week 2001 took place in March, designed to increase awareness of cycling as a recreational activity. Media coverage included TV, radio and newspapers.

A community education and promotion campaign publicised the introduction of new skating rules. This consisted of articles in newspapers and the distribution of stickers, posters and a code of conduct booklet.

Other Information
Authority was given to 13 councils, not only to enforce parking restrictions, but also regulations associated with expired vehicle registration. Authority was also given to Councils to determine "no-go" zones for skating and to approve the erection of regulatory signs to implement such zones.

VEHICLE OPERATIONS
Achievements Against Strategies Identified For 2000-2001
Development of forward strategies for staffing, legislative reform, communications, enforcement and vehicle inspection
Draft strategies have been developed and are to be reviewed and finalised during 2001-2002, taking account of the outcomes of the Tasmania Together process. Of particular importance is the enforcement strategy.

Introduction of the National Heavy Vehicle Accreditation Scheme (NHVAS)
Introduction of the first modules of the NHVAS was delayed while the Interim Accreditation Board finalised an accrediatation model for heavy goods vehicles. By the end of the year the mass Management Module was drafted and Auditor training was scheduled.

Introduction of Passenger Transport Accreditation
Interim passenger transport accreditation was successfully implemented during the year and was only awaiting the completion of Auditor training before full introduction. Full accreditation of hire and drive operators was successfully introduced.

Introduction of the National Defective Vehicle Management Scheme
The national defective vehicle management scheme was successfully implemented. This involved the design of new defect sheets for Police and Transport Inspectors and new systems to ensure all defects are recorded and tracked. Issues arose with reminder and warning letters, but these were resolved by the end of the period. The national process records and tracks all defect orders issued.

Introduction of new Vehicle Standards and Vehicle Operations Regulations
Considerable progress was made on the Vehicle Standards Regulations with a final draft being completed by the end of the period scheduled for tabling in mid-August 2001. Work on the Vehicle Operations Regulations is on schedule for January 2002 tabling.

Finalisation of Vehicle Operations Technical Bulletins
At the end of the period almost 200 technical bulletins had been revised or rewritten. This represents about two-thirds of the total issues required to be covered.

Website development
The development of an intranet site allowed access to all technical bulletins by departmental personnel.

B-Double and Higher Mass Limits Route Networks
The networks were successfully revised and documented. New procedures for route approval were documented and circulated to stakeholders. The year saw a trend emerging in which certain existing routes were queried by councils and other stakeholders, and moves are afoot to have several route approvals rescinded.

Opening of New Inspection Station in Launceston
The new Inspection Station in Launceston was opened on schedule in August 2000. It has operated successfully since then.

Approved Inspection Station (AIS) Vehicle Examiner Assessments
The move to require all AIS Vehicle Examiners to be assessed by TAFE was successfully completed, with almost 300 examiners being accredited during the year. In addition, new software enhancements made to the Motor Registry system ensure any inspection report completed by an unauthorised Vehicle Examiner is now rejected.

Additional Achievements
High Productivity Vehicle Network
The network was extended further and transferred to a computerised mapping system. In addition a revised route network permit was distributed to industry, combining both High Productivity and Higher Mass Limits networks.

National Transport Reform Program
Vehicle Operations Branch played a major role during the year in developing and introducing a range of elements of the national Transport Reform program and in particular ensured that compliance with the National Competition Policy (NCP) guidelines was achieved. The Branch has had input into the following reform projects:

Load Restraint
Higher Mass Limits
Mobile Crane Registration
Australian Road Rules
Heavy Vehicle Charges
Smart Compliance
Road Friendly Suspension
Heavy Vehicle Noise
Low Floor Bus Mass Allowances
Sleeper Berth Design for Coaches
Overdimensional Permit Database
A new database was developed to issue special permits for oversize and overmass loads. It issues the permits and records data for future reference. This has made it easier to issue permits while ensuring greater protection of roads and roadside structures.

Better consultation
The Branch has implemented a policy of thorough consultation with industry and motoring bodies in all areas for which it is responsible.

Community Awareness Activities
Officers spoke at the Livestock Transport Association annual conference.
Transport Inspectors attended Agfest and distributed information on agricultural vehicle movement.
Assistance and advice was given to hot rod and sporting car clubs.
Between two and three pages of text were provided for inclusion in each quarterly issue of The Transporter to increase awareness among the goods vehicle industry of the latest developments.
The Branch maintains a "hot line" for transport operators and the motoring public to answer vehicle technical questions.
Statistical Results
NOTE: 1998-99 and 1999-2000 figures include vehicle checks for roadworthiness, mass and roadworthiness combined. 2000-2001 figures separate out checks for unregistered vehicles. (These are shown in brackets).

* Includes trailers
# This figure has dropped following implementation of higher mass limits