JOINT MEDIA RELEASE WITH THE DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER MICHAEL MCCORMACK AND MINISTER FOR ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR ROAD SAFETY AND FREIGHT TRANSPORT
The Australian Government is committed to reducing road fatalities, with Federation University in Ballarat granted a share of $2 million to be delivered over the next four years through Round 1 of the Road Safety Innovation Fund.
Senator for Victoria Sarah Henderson said the Australian Government takes road safety seriously, because one death on our roads is one too many.
“The Road Safety Innovation Fund is one of the many ways the Australian Government is investing in road safety to move towards zero fatalities and serious injuries on our roads,” Senator Henderson said.
“In the Electorate of Ballarat, this round of funding will deliver $193,954 for the turning semi-trailers safety project at Federation University”.
“This project will investigate the use of a ‘virtual rail’ concept to reduce corner cutting with the aim to reduce the number of cyclists and pedestrians killed or injured by articulated vehicles. It also aims to reduce the number of jack-knifing accidents making the road safer for trucks and all motorists”
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Michael McCormack said the Road Safety Innovation Fund funds research projects to keep all road users safe on Australian roads.
“These projects range from protecting vulnerable users including pedestrians, cyclists and children, through to crash prediction models, improving night visibility of signs, boosting heavy vehicle safety by trialling automated inspection capabilities and driver decline sensitivity testing,” the Deputy Prime Minister said.
“Finding innovative ways to make safety front of mind for all road users is key to supporting the Safe System principles – a holistic approach to road safety that underpins the National Road Safety Strategy that has been agreed by all Governments.”
Assistant Minister for Road Safety and Freight Transport said the Road Safety Innovation Fund proved very popular, with more funding to be made available for projects later this year.
“In Round 1 there were 104 applications for grant funding, which demonstrates strong community interest in this important road safety initiative,” Mr Buchholz said.
“Other Australian Government road safety initiatives include the $4 million Road Safety Awareness and Enablers Fund, which is helping deliver targeted educational campaigns to reduce risky behavior and increase road safety awareness, installing life-saving speed signage and collaborating with the community on decreasing road trauma.”
The Road Safety Innovation Fund Round 2 is expected to open in late 2020. For more information on the Australian Government’s road safety initiatives, including the Office of Road Safety, visit officeofroadsafety.gov.au
9 July 2020