The Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) welcomes the opportunity to provide input into the South Australia’s Road Safety Strategy to 2031 aligning with National Road Safety Action Plan 2021 to 2031.
FCAI commentary will only be specific to certain elements of the proposed road safety strategy as it pertains to light duty motor vehicles (passenger cars and light commercial vehicles) and motorcycles.
The automotive industry in general, and the FCAI membership specifically has and continues to make significant contributions towards improved vehicle safety in Australia providing technologies and innovations to market in advance of and exceeding minimum regulatory standards or non‐regulatory processes. It is most often this industry driven innovation that provides technologies driving regulation rather than vice versa.
Automotive manufacturers have long recognised their role in improving vehicle safety outcomes recognising that drivers do not always make the best decisions. In fact, recent advances in vehicle safety technologies increasingly warn drivers of impending situations and in many cases assist the driver to avoid or minimise the effects of accident situations. It is these more recent developments that make it essential to reduce the average age of vehicles on South Australia roads, if in vehicle safety technology is to assist in improving road safety and reducing road trauma. Modern vehicles are far safer in preventing accidents and in the unlikely case of being involved in an accident; are far more likely to protect the passengers with advanced active and passive safety systems.
FCAI strongly supports a Safe Systems approach for road safety in general and the overall objectives ofthe National Road Safety Strategy (NRSS). This integrated approach involves all factors including road safety management, road infrastructure, road user behaviour, traffic rules enforcement, and safer vehicles. Such an approach is essential and must not be contradicted by attempts to single out individual factors in isolation and should apply to all users of the road including non‐traditional such as pedestrians and cyclists.
The full submission is available below.