A PLAN to help reduce lives lost and serious injuries on SA roads is being developed with the call out for public input.
The new 10-year Road Safety Strategy, Towards Zero Together has opened for community consultation today, with the results to guide safety decisions and investment up to 2031.
The development of the Strategy focuses on regional, metropolitan and remote roads - places where people live, shop, do business, attend school and work - and will be guided by extensive consultation with stakeholders and the community.
Road Safety Minister Vincent Tarzia said input from communities and stakeholders across SA was critical for developing effective measures to prevent road tragedies.
"Every person in SA is a road user," he said.
"Whether you drive, ride, walk or are a passenger, this is your opportunity to help shape a new Road Safety Strategy to guide the state's progress to reduce lives lost and serious injuries.
"We want to better understand how you travel around your community, what goals must be set for improving road safety over the next 10 years, and what issues must be prioritised and addressed in the Road Safety Strategy."
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Mr Tarzia said the cost of not getting this right was high.
"Fatalities and serious injuries on our roads are preventable," he said.
"The residual effects of crashes are devastating for the families and loved ones of victims, and for those who support the seriously injured.
"Some survivors of road crashes are left with long-term life-changing injuries."
The new Strategy is supported by road safety data, research, and Centre for Automotive Safety and Research modelling, which provides insight into how lives lost and serious injuries can be prevented.
Between 2015-2019, there were 482 lives lost on SA roads and another 3482 people seriously injured.
Two thirds of people who are killed or seriously injured in road crashes are vehicle occupants - drivers and passengers. - while the other one third involves vulnerable road users like motorcyclists, pedestrians and cyclists.
The rate of lives lost per 100,000 people is now four-times higher in regional SA compared to metropolitan Adelaide.
To have your say, complete the online survey on yoursay.sa.gov.au/sa-road-safety-strategy before consultation closes on Monday, November 2.
The draft Strategy will be available for feedback on yourSAy in 2021.
For more information about the new Road Safety Strategy and the consultation process, please email DIT.RoadSafety@sa.gov.au
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