The Institute of Public Works Engineering Australia (WA Division) and the Western Australian Local Government Association invite Local Governments to nominate projects for the 2012 Local Government Road Safety Awards. The awards seek to acknowledge outstanding achievements by Local Governments in contributing to the creation of a safe road transport system in WA

Award categories are aligned to Towards Zero, the WA Road Safety Strategy 2008-2020, and are based on the safe system cornerstones:

Safe Road Use:
Influencing the behaviour of road users is critical in saving lives and preventing injuries on the Local Government road network.  The evidence tells us that it is not only 'risk taking' behaviour that causes serious crashes.  Many are caused by the mistakes road users make, such as errors of judgement or momentary lapses of concentration.

This category relates to Local Governments that have developed a community road safety action project to address safe road user behaviours - for example, countering drink and drug driving, reducing speeding, increasing restraint use, fatigue, distraction and novice drivers.  The action project may involve a number of Local Governments and other agencies working collaboratively to address a community road safety issue.

Safe Roads and Roadsides
Improvements to the safety of roads and roadsides have been proven to reduce the incidence and severity of crashes at locations with a known crash history.

The safe roads and roadsides category relates to projects that have identified high risk sections of road, roadsides and intersections; then implemented a cost effective solution or treatment that has enhanced the overall safety for all road users.

Safe Travel Speeds
Research shows that as speed increases, road users are less able to react to other road users' actions or detect hazards; stopping distances increase; and crash severity increases.

This category safe travel speeds relates to projects that have used engineering approaches; or innovative and effective treatments that make changes to the road environment to encourage lower travel speeds.

Safe Vehicles
Improvements to the crash protection and safety features in vehicles have been proven to reduce the number of road deaths and serious injuries.

This category relates to those Local Government that may have adopted or implemented a workplace road safety policy and/or a fleet purchasing policy.  Alternatively they may have advocated or supported the Australian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) and used car safety ratings in their area.

Joe North Award
Acknowledgement of an individual with an outstanding contribution to road safety. 

The awards will be presented by Hon. Rob Johnson Minister for Police and Road Safety at the 2012 Local Government Transport and Roads Forum on the 4 May 2012 at the Burswood Entertainment Complex.

For more information contact Trish Strickland, Road Safety Project Officer on phone 9213 2055 or email pstrickland@walga.asn.au