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TOWARDS ZERO TOGETHER

Learn about enhancing South Australia's Graduated Licensing Scheme through road safety partnerships and evidence-based strategies to reduce serious casualties among young drivers.

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TOWARDS ZERO TOGETHER

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  1. TOWARDS ZERO TOGETHER Enhancing South Australia’s Graduated Licensing Scheme - through road safety partnerships and a strong evidence-base Paula Norman, Manager Safety Strategy Safety and Policy Programs DEPT OF PLANNING, TRANSPORT & INFRASTRUCTURE Australasian Road Safety Conference 14-16 October 2015, Gold Coast

  2. WHAT WAS THE PROBLEM IN SA? Serious Casualties by age and population distribution, South Australia, 2009-2013 People aged 16 – 24 years are over- represented in serious casualties

  3. NEED TO PROTECT P-PLATERS Percentage of SA drivers involved in a crash five years after licensing (Austroads, 2008) Crashes are most likely to occur during the first 12 months of holding a provisional licence when the driver is least experienced and driving unsupervised.

  4. INTER AND INTRA-STATE COMPARISON 16-19 year old fatalities per 100,000 population for 2009- 2013 by jurisdiction South Australia has the third worst fatality rate for the 16-19 year old age group of all Australian states and territories. Young drivers and riders aged 16 – 24 in rural South Australia are around 2 ½ times more likely to or be seriously injured in a crash than those who live in the metro area

  5. PASSENGERS Drivers involved in fatal crashes with 2 or more passengers as a percentage of total drivers, South Australia, 2009 - 2013 • Young drivers are four to five times more likely to be involved in a fatal crash when they have two or more peer passengers. • Carrying peer passengers can distract a driver and having more than one peer age passenger can also encourage a young driver to take greater risks. 25% of 16 – 19 year old drivers involved in fatal crashes are carrying 2 or more passengers. This compares to 12% of drivers involved in fatal crashes over the age of 25 carrying 2 or more passengers

  6. LATE NIGHT DRIVING • All drivers have an increased risk of crashing when driving late at night but the risk is greater for inexperienced drivers. • This is not just because it is harder to see hazards at night but also because young drivers tend to spend more time driving at night compared to other drivers. • Fatigue and alcohol are other significant factors that increase crash risk at night. Drivers involved in fatal crashes between 10 pm and 5 am as a percentage of total crashes, South Australia, 2009-2013 Of the 16 – 19 year old drivers/riders involved in a fatal crash, 30% crashed between the hours of 10 pm and 5 am. This compares to 12% for drivers/riders involved in fatal crashes aged 25 or over

  7. What did we propose? • Five initiatives included: • Passenger restriction for P1 drivers aged under 25 • Night driving restriction for P1 drivers aged under 25 • Raising the minimum licensing age to 18 • Extending time on a provisional licence from 2 to 3 years • Removing regression

  8. CONSULTATION PROCESS • GLS Discussion Paper released for public consultation in October 2011. • Over 1000 responses received from the community and road safety stakeholders. • Detailed report on public consultation outcomes was released in August 2012. The Discussion Paper and Outcomes Report is available at: http://mylicence.sa.gov.au/my-car-licence/graduated-licensing-scheme/discussion-papers

  9. WHAT DID THE COMMUNITY SAY? A diverse range of responses were received – The proposed initiatives were supported by the RAA, MAC, CASR, SAPOL, Emergency Services & health sector. This feedback shaped the initiatives introduced on 28 July 2014, including Government’s decision not to progress increasing the minimum driving age. • Many positive comments from parents and caregivers as well as young people. • Concerns around impact on young rural drivers as well as employment. • Not support overwhelming by community to raise the licensing age.

  10. PROCESS TO GAIN SUPPORT FOR THE BILL • The draft Bill proposed: • Passenger and night-time driving restrictions for ALL P1 drivers aged under 25 years. • Extending the time on a provisional licence from 2 to 3 years for NEW P drivers; • Making the Hazard Perception Test (HPT) a requirement to go from a learner’s permit to P1 licence, rather than P1 to P2 licence; and • Removal of regression to a previous licence stage following a disqualification period. • Offered briefings to every MP including independents • Personally briefed key stakeholders including: • -Primary Producers SA • -Motor Trade Association of SA • -Business SA • -SA Ambulance Service • -Volunteering SA & NT • -Youth Affairs Council of SA • Worked closely with SAPOL, MAC, CASR, and RAA throughout

  11. PROCESS TO GAIN SUPPORT FOR THE BILL The overall total number of injuries that had the potential to be prevented if these restrictions were in place since 2008;

  12. EXEMPTION SCHEME • The exemption model was critical in gaining support for the passenger and night driving restrictions both in Parliament and within the community. • The automatic exemption model chosen places onus on the driver to satisfy police at the roadside that they are driving under one of the exemption grounds. • This model provides flexibility and caters to the needs of young people who may frequently change circumstances of their employment etc. • A voluntary P1 Driver Exemption Form was developed and contains the recommended information for young drivers to complete.

  13. COMMUNICATING THE CHANGES • Developing “key messages” was critical to gaining support for the measures. • Messages were evidence-based and consistent throughout the entire process. • A significant communications campaign was prepared to accompany the new laws. • This included: • - a statewide advertising campaign involved press, radio, digital and bus shelter advertising. • letters sent to all L and P1 drivers across the State (approximately 100,000) • some 500 letters sent to employer and volunteer groups, education/training institutions and relevant clubs and associated to advise them of the details of the changes, how the exemption model would work and what it would mean for them. • GLS webpage devoted to the new laws with FAQs

  14. COMMUNICATING THE CHANGES

  15. ONE YEAR ON…. *2015 data is preliminary

  16. WHAT WE HAVE ACHIEVED • Improving young driver safety has remained a priority for SA over the last decade. • Strategy has been to accept smaller safety improvements which enhance GLS incrementally over time (while continuing to push for significant reform over longer term). • The GLS changes are the most significant made to the GLS in South Australia and means South Australia now has one of the best GLS in the country. • The latest reforms represent almost 3 years of work including: • - major public consultation process • drafting of legislation and the passage of the Bill through Parliament • six month implementation period (leg by inter-agency project group) • significant public communications campaign

  17. CONCLUDING REMARKS • This result would not have been achieved without: • The combined effort of road safety stakeholders working together to develop and implement the changes that will have lasting benefit to young people in SA • Using an evidence-based approach to gain support for the changes

  18. More Information

  19. Questions?

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