Road safety initiatives to 2010

Project update July 2003

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In September 2002, the Minister of Transport, Hon Paul Swain, announced the government's new road safety goals of achieving no more than 300 fatalities and 4,500 hospitalisations per annum by 2010. A substantial work programme was put in place by the National Road Safety Committee to begin working towards this goal.

To understand the breadth of these special projects we have listed them here, each with its overarching purpose statement, a summary of the proposed deliverables and the current status.

This update highlights some of the natural linkages across many of the projects. The project teams will need to listen to and talk with many groups of people and organisations to ensure robust, comprehensive and acceptable results for these 2010 projects.

A printed version of this update

If you require further detail about a particular project, please contact the project manager concerned.

Projects

SAFETY MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS
Purpose	To ensure that road controlling authorities' decisions about construction, maintenance and management of road networks lead to the achievement of clear safety targets.
Deliverables	Guidelines to assist road controlling authorities in the development of safety management systems. Initiation of 15 voluntary demonstration projects followed by an evaluation of their progress.
Project manager	Bill Greenwood, LTSA Safer Roads
Email	bill.greenwood@ltsa.govt.nz
Direct dial	04 494 8602
Current status	Guidelines have been published and distributed. They provide examples and a development process for safety management systems. The guidelines will be further updated in November 2003, based on experience with the current 22 demonstration projects. A feedback workshop will take place in Christchurch on 18 September 2003 to assist with this update.

ROAD NETWORK PERFORMANCE
Purpose	To ensure that the safety management systems approach for road controlling authorities is soundly based on relevant information and analysis of the road network structure, its characteristics and performance measures.
Deliverables	Development of agreed national road classifications, performance targets and measures, risk profiles and an assessment of roadside hazards.
Project manager	Alan Dixon, LTSA Safer Roads
Email	aland@ltsa.govt.nz
Direct dial	04 494 8668
Current status	Work has begun on developing a Road Network Classification, which will be finalised by August 2003. A report on the Roadside Hazard Assessment will be completed in October 2003. Investigation is underway into the data requirements for establishing performance targets and measures for the roading network.

PEDESTRIAN AND CYCLIST BEST PRACTICE STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES
Purpose	To develop and promote best practice standards and guidelines for the planning of networks and the engineering of facilities for pedestrians and cyclists.
Deliverables	The development of a number of specific standards for pedestrians and cyclists and an on-going programme for standards development and research for vulnerable road users.
Project manager	Lyndon Hammond, LTSA Safer Roads
Email	lbh@ltsa.govt.nz
Direct dial	04 494 8796
Current status	The guidelines for installing pedestrian facilities for people with visual impairment are being revised and will be published in September this year. Background research has begun to develop both the cycle network and planning guide and the guidelines for network planning and facilities for pedestrians. Consultation with stakeholders regarding the standards currently being developed and the ongoing development programme has commenced. Guidelines for the design of cycle facilities are being developed by Transit New Zealand.

SAFE ROUTES
Purpose	To establish an environment that will encourage the delivery of well founded community-based pedestrian and cyclist safety improvements to the road environment.
Deliverables	An agreed programme delivery model and operational policy and guidelines for safe routes activities. An environmental scan of best practice in safe routes type activities nationally and internationally.
Project manager	Jane Mitchell, LTSA Communications
Email	jane.mitchell@ltsa.govt.nz
Direct dial	04 495 0201
Current status	An initial preferred programme delivery model has been identified. A draft environment scan report has been prepared. The release of operational policy and guidelines will coincide with the initiation of some pilot safe routes projects in September 2003.

PEDESTRIAN AND CYCLIST SAFETY FRAMEWORK
Purpose	To provide a clear strategic platform for managing the safety of pedestrians and cyclists.
Deliverables	A pedestrian and cyclist safety framework will be developed in collaboration with interested groups.
Project manager	Matt Grant, LTSA Safety Strategy
Email	matt.grant@ltsa.govt.nz
Direct dial	04 494 8741
Current status	Initial consultation with stakeholders on the scope and approach of the strategy is underway. Work has also started on a paper on education best practice, which will be completed at the end of July.

HEAVY VEHICLE SAFETY STRATEGY
Purpose	To provide strategic direction for government agencies and a strategic framework to focus agency work on improving safety outcomes for heavy vehicles.
Deliverables	A heavy vehicle safety strategy.
Project manager	Rachel Petrus, LTSA Safety Strategy
Email	rp1@ltsa.govt.nz
Direct dial	04 494 8725
Current status	A stocktake of LTSA, Police and Transit NZ heavy vehicle safety-related activities has been completed. Key government agencies have met to discuss the project's purpose, objectives and scope. When this is agreed, industry representatives will be contacted to inform them of a likely timeframe for consultation.

TRUCK LAW COMPLIANCE
Purpose	To monitor the key risks associated with heavy vehicles and drivers complying with requirements LTSA would like to manage.
Deliverables	This work will be carried out to a scale that would provide useful information for the Police Commercial Vehicle Intelligence Unit (CVIU).
Project manager	Bill Frith, LTSA Research and Statistics
Email	wjf@ltsa.govt.nz
Direct dial	04 494 8731
Current status	The Police have finished survey work and were presented with the results in June 2003.

PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENT
Purpose	To assist territorial authorities develop local road safety strategies and target local resources by providing more performance estimates at a territorial level.
Deliverables	There will be an increase in the number of LTSA surveys of speed and the use of rear and front seat restraints being conducted in selected territorial areas.
Project manager	Bill Frith, LTSA Research and Statistics
Email	wjf@ltsa.govt.nz
Direct dial	04 494 8731
Current status	The restraint surveys were completed in May 2003 with results being available in August. The extended speed survey will be completed and results made available in November 2003.

CONTINUING TRAVEL SURVEY
Purpose	To ensure the availability of up-to-date travel data to inform transport and road safety analysis and decision-making.
Deliverables	Comprehensive interviews of all members of at least 1,500 households will be undertaken and the results published. This will be the first of on-going interviewing and reporting.
Project manager	Bill Frith, LTSA Research and Statistics
Email	wjf@ltsa.govt.nz
Direct dial	04 494 8731
Current status	Training and setup for the survey is underway. The data collection will be completed mid-2003 with the ? rst annual report being published in December 2003.

CRASH ANALYSIS SYSTEM (CAS) FOR EXTERNALS
Purpose	To provide access for transport sector decision-makers to the tools and information that will enable them to achieve the best possible safety outcomes.
Deliverables	Development of CAS training materials, delivering a training programme for the LTSA's road safety partners and launching CAS to external users via the internet.
Project manager	Stuart Badger, LTSA Research and Statistics
Email	snb@ltsa.govt.nz
Direct dial	04 494 8729
Current status	The first phase of centralising LTSA use of CAS onto a single new high performance database platform was completed mid-February 2003. The second phase of launching CAS to external users will be completed in August 2003.

REGIONAL STRATEGY DEVOLUTION
Purpose	To provide strategic support to local government as it moves to incorporate national road safety goals into its transport responsibilities.
Deliverables	Strategic planning guidelines will be developed in consultation with local government followed by ongoing promotion to ensure they are incorporated into regional land transport strategies.
Project manager	Richard O'Reilly, LTSA Safety Strategy
Email	richard.oreilly@ltsa.govt.nz
Direct dial	04 494 8687
Current status	Consultation is underway with Local Government New Zealand and some local authorities for the development of draft guidelines.

AGENCY SAFETY ASSESSMENT
Purpose	To assess the ability of government agency policies and practices to ensure delivery of safety benefits across the road network and road user groups.
Deliverables	Analyse current programmes in the government transport sector that have an identifiable impact on road safety. Identify potential areas for improvement in agencies' policies and programmes and when road safety may be affected.
Project manager	Rachel Petrus, LTSA Safety Strategy
Email	rp1@ltsa.govt.nz
Direct dial	04 494 8725
Current status	The first set of intensive meetings has been held with LTSA managers, and initial meetings with other agency participants (Ministry of Transport, Transit New Zealand, Transfund, Accident Compensation Corporation, New Zealand Police, Ministry of Health and Ministry of Justice). A full report on the project is scheduled for completion in August 2003.

ADMINISTRATIVE PENALTIES REVIEW
Purpose	To enhance the safety focus and effectiveness of administrative penalties.
Deliverables	Deliverables Risk and Deterrence Study. Public attitudes survey. Ranking of risk factors. Framework for penalties regime.
Project manager	David Weinstein, LTSA Safer People
Email	David.Weinstein@ltsa.govt.nz
Direct dial	04 494 8783
Current status	The draft Risk and Deterrence Study has been peer reviewed and will be available shortly. Key stakeholders have been briefed on its preliminary findings. Work is now underway on the development of a framework for ranking offences by level of risk. The framework is due for referral to stakeholders for comment in September 2003. A report on recommendations for any changes to administrative penalties is due to the Minister in June 2004.

COMMUNITY ROAD SAFETY PROGRAMME (CRSP) REVIEW IMPLEMENTATION
Purpose	To enhance the future capacity of the Community Road Safety Programme to support the Road Safety to 2010 strategy.
Deliverables	Release of a revised Community Road Safety Strategy. Introduction of revised CRSP contracts and planning processes. Scope of a new information system defined. Establishment of new professional development and programmes policy functions.
Project manager	Patricia McAloon, LTSA Safety Programme
Email	pmm@ltsa.govt.nz
Direct dial	04 494 8721
Current status	A revised Community Road Safety Strategy will be distributed in August 2003. Consultation is currently taking place on communication principles and a communications strategy. A strategy for professional development is currently being prepared along with structures for community programmes policy. User requirements for the information system are also being developed.

ROADSENSE — ATA HAERE
Purpose	To increase the amount of road safety being taught in schools
Deliverables	1000 schools involved in the RoadSense programme in 2004
Project manager	Maria Cunningham
Email	mc2@ltsa.govt.nz
Direct dial	04 494 8724
Current status	650 intermediate and primary schools from throughout New Zealand are taking part in RoadSense this year — 238 were for the 2001 school year and 415 joined the programme this year. A network of 13 RoadSense facilitators delivers workshops, resources and regular contact to schools in the programme. Specific road safety education resources are being developed for RoadSense schools and all schools are able to use the RoadSense website. The first stage of the evaluation of the RoadSense programme has started.

NOVICE DRIVER EDUCATION PILOT
Purpose	To trial new approaches to driver education that enhance the value of the graduated driver licensing system as a progressive preparation of novice drivers for driving independently.
Deliverables	An information campaign for novice drivers and their parents or caregivers. Trial and evaluate the implementation of a competency-based training and assessment (CBTA) programme for novice driver licensing, including relevant training and qualifications for approved driver educators. Trial and evaluate the implementation of CBTA in a secondary school setting with secondary school age students.
Project manager	Michael Cummins, LTSA Education
Email	mjc@ltsa.govt.nz
Direct dial	04 494 8693
Current status	CBTA providers have been contracted and trained. The learner licence stage of the information campaign, Practice, and provision of CBTA services went live in early May 2003. Development of the second stage of the information campaign (for restricted licence holders) has begun.

DRIVER EDUCATION CAMPAIGN
Purpose	To contribute to a reduction in the number of crashes where someone fails to give way.
Deliverables	To commence a targeted campaign in 2003 to encourage behaviour change. This will be supported by Police enforcement.
Project manager	Rachel Jensen, LTSA Communications
Email	rachelj@ltsa.govt.nz
Direct dial	04 494 8610
Current status	The campaign launched in June 2003 with television, cinema and billboard advertising. Further advertising is in development for launching later in 2003.

ROAD POLICING FUNDING
Purpose	To review Police district resource allocation through the New Zealand Road Safety Programme, and work towards district-based purchasing.
Deliverables	Review resource allocation based on the most recent crash data, and promote the purchase and delivery of road policing services based on a Police district level, instead of a single local authority level on an ongoing basis.
Project managers	Patricia McAloon, LTSA Strategy David Trappitt, NZ Police Planning and Policy
Email	pmm@ltsa.govt.nz david.trappit@police.govt.nz
Direct dial	04 494 8721 04 474 9499
Current status	A review of resource allocation according to risk has been completed, and no change to current allocation was recommended. This will be reviewed for the 2004/2005 year. Promotion of district-based purchasing of services is being undertaken on an ongoing basis.

ENFORCEMENT CAPABILITY
Purpose	To reinvest in Police equipment to support strategic enforcement and build strategic capability within the Police to improve delivery.
Deliverables	Leasing and delivery of equipment (eight booze buses, 67 vehicles, 42 lasers, 177 variable message signs, 572 radars) to Police districts. Appointment of additional strategic capability staff (21 non—sworn staff).
Project manager	Mary Schollum, New Zealand Police Road Policing Support (some responsibility for the implementation of each project has been delegated to various individuals).
Email	mary.schollum@police.govt.nz
Direct dial	04 490 7395
Current status	Nearly all of the additional road policing vehicles are in place and the remainder will be delivered on schedule. Difficulties have been encountered in the design of the booze buses and with sourcing a supplier, and these vehicles are likely to become available in late 2003. A trial of the VMS signs is currently underway. Pending the results of the trial the remainder of the signs will be leased and delivered early in 2003/04. The replacement radar stock (two-fifths of the total allocation) has been leased and delivered to districts. The additional radars and the lasers will be be obtained through worldwide tender commencing in early 2003/04. The majority of the strategic capability staff are in place or are currently being appointed. The remainder will be appointed in early 2003/04.

TARGETED ENFORCEMENT
Purpose	To increase Police enforcement capability (47 sworn and 23 non—sworn staff over two years) in the areas of commercial vehicles, Auckland motorways and rural compulsory breath testing.
Deliverables	Additional sworn and non—sworn staff (intelligence, motorways support, vehicle safety and weighbridge enforcement staff) and accompanying equipment (five booze buses, 39 cars, seven lasers, 23 VMS signs and 28 radars).
Project manager	Mary Schollum, New Zealand Police Road Policing Support
Email	mary.schollum@police.govt.nz
Direct dial	04 490 7395
Current status	The additional 57 staff for 2002/03 have been appointed and the 2003/04 staff are expected to be appointed on schedule. The equipment is also on schedule, with the exceptions (booze buses, VMS signs) noted above.

CYCLE DESIGN GUIDE
Purpose	To develop and promote best practice standards and guidelines for the engineering of cycle facilities
Deliverables	The development of the New Zealand Supplement to Austroads GTEP Part 14: Bicycles, to reflect New Zealand conditions.
Project manager	David McGonigal, Transit New Zealand
Email	david.mcgonigal@transit.govt.nz
Direct dial	04 496 6623
Current status	The drafting of the New Zealand supplement to Austroads GTEP Part 14: Bicycles is to be completed by July 2003. A consultation series will follow thereafter, with publication anticipated in September 2003.

STATE HIGHWAYS
Purpose	To develop innovative engineering solutions, focusing on lower-cost strategic safety improvements on the state highway network.
Deliverables	Scheme assessment completed for median cable barrier 2+1 trial (January 2003). Scheme assessment completed for roadside clearance trial (March 2003). Roadside clearance trial started (June 2003). Median cable barrier 2+1 trial completed (December 2003).
Project manager	Dave Bates, Transit New Zealand
Email	dave.bates@transit.govt.nz
Direct dial	04 496 6644
Current status	The median cable barrier trial scheme assessment has been completed and final design is underway for the 2+1 trial on SH58. The scheme assessment for the roadside safety retrofit trial is currently underway.

MOTORCYCLISTS
Purpose	To reduce the number and severity of injuries sustained by motorcyclists through strategies targeting key injury issues.
Deliverables	The development of strategies to target key injury issues for motorcyclists including targeting licensing and training issues, protective gear, engineering issues and community delivery models. Includes the completion and evaluation of a community project pilot, and a competency-based training and assessment trial.
Project manager	Leonie McCormack, ACC, Injury Prevention and Client Services
Email	leonie.mccormack@acc.co.nz
Direct dial	04 918 4132
Current status	The ACC Motorcycle Injury Prevention Strategy group met recently to look at the longer-term direction of the strategy for motorcycle safety. The group composition has changed with a move towards a partnership approach amongst key stakeholders. This should provide greater leverage and greater industry investment in motorcycle safety. Resources are being focused on a number of key injury related issues.

EVALUATION OF ENGINEERING SAFETY BENEFITS
Purpose	To: audit accident reduction benefits estimated in project evaluations to confirm the accuracy of the benefits attributed to road improvements improve the accident reduction prediction methods in Transfund's Project Evaluation Manual for different types of safety improvements.
Deliverables	Report on the feasibility of a system for measuring the achievement of safety works (June 2003). An operational system, if the report shows this is feasible.
Project manager	Bob Alkema, Transfund New Zealand
Email	Bob.Alkema@transfund.govt.nz
Direct dial	04 916 4260
Current status	Consultant finalising the feasibility study report on developing a system for measuring achievement of safety benefits from projects funded through the National Land Transport Programme.

PREDICTIVE ACCIDENT ANALYSIS
Purpose	To develop procedures to move project evaluation from a reactive to a predictive focus.
Deliverables	Amendments to Transfund's Project Evaluation Manual (PEM) and Manual for Evaluation of Alternatives to Roading.
Project manager	Ian Melsom, Transfund New Zealand
Email	Ian.Melsom@transfund.govt.nz
Direct dial	04 916 4266
Current status	Amendment (No. 6) for PEM issued 1 September 2002. Amendment (No. 3) for ATR Evaluation Manual issued 1 March 2003.

ENHANCE UPTAKE OF SAFETY AUDITS
Purpose	To increase the uptake of safety audits.
Deliverables	New manual, Policy Proposals.
Project manager	Ian Appleton, Transfund New Zealand
Email	Ian.Appleton@transfund.govt.nz
Direct dial	04 916 4271
Current status	Responses to a consultation paper on policy issues associated with the road safety audit procedures and practices reports were presented to the Transfund Board at its June 2003 meeting. The Board has requested further information on the criteria for the application of the policy, based on a risk model approach, and scope for further development of this policy. We expect to publish the revised manual later in 2003.

REVIEW OF LOCAL AUTHORITY ROAD SAFETY AND MANAGEMENT
Purpose	To review current local authority road safety management and delivery and consider its appropriateness, in terms of both funding levels and quality. To contribute towards the objectives of the Road Safety to 2010 strategy.
Deliverables	A report outlining the results of a survey of 15 local authorities on their expenditure and activities directly related to road safety. The report will include information on effectiveness, constraints and future requirements for road safety.
Project manager	Tim Davin, Local Government New Zealand
Email	tim.davin@lgnz.co.nz
Direct dial	04 924 1206
Current status	Commission awarded to Peter Beilby Consulting Limited, initial briefing held and survey design initiated.

CO-ORDINATION
The co-ordination of this activity will be overseen by the Minister of Transport and monitored by the National Road Safety Committee (NRSC), which comprises the chief executives of: Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) — preventing and managing motor vehicle injury through the Motor Vehicle Account Land Transport Safety Authority (LTSA) — regulating and managing road safety, including managing the New Zealand Road Safety Programme (NZRSP), which funds and manages road policing, and safety education and strategic services Local Government New Zealand — representing 12 regional council areas and 74 territorial and local authorities, whose Regional Land Transport Strategies integrate safety into regional transport planning, and Local Land Transport Programmes manage the safety maintenance and improvement of local roading networks Ministry of Transport — providing Ministerial advice and managing road safety legislation New Zealand Police — policing New Zealand's road network, funded and managed through the NZRSP Transfund New Zealand — managing the National Land Transport Programme, which funds network safety maintenance and improvement on state highways and local roads, as well as public transport and alternatives to roading Transit New Zealand — managing the safety, maintenance and improvement of the highway network through the State Highway Programme.

CO-ORDINATION

The co-ordination of this activity will be overseen by the Minister of Transport and monitored by the National Road Safety Committee (NRSC), which comprises the chief executives of:

Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) — preventing and managing motor vehicle injury through the Motor Vehicle Account
Land Transport Safety Authority (LTSA) — regulating and managing road safety, including managing the New Zealand Road Safety Programme (NZRSP), which funds and manages road policing, and safety education and strategic services
Local Government New Zealand — representing 12 regional council areas and 74 territorial and local authorities, whose Regional Land Transport Strategies integrate safety into regional transport planning, and Local Land Transport Programmes manage the safety maintenance and improvement of local roading networks
Ministry of Transport — providing Ministerial advice and managing road safety legislation
New Zealand Police — policing New Zealand's road network, funded and managed through the NZRSP
Transfund New Zealand — managing the National Land Transport Programme, which funds network safety maintenance and improvement on state highways and local roads, as well as public transport and alternatives to roading
Transit New Zealand — managing the safety, maintenance and improvement of the highway network through the State Highway Programme.

Page created: 6 August 2003