Update Newsletter December 2010
In this issue:
- 17 projects approved in Round 7
- Road safety issues for new arrivals
- Cyclist safety projects
- Next round
Round 7 approved projects
Of 24 applications received in Round 7, the TAC has approved 17 projects, totalling more than $325,000 in grants. Local councils and rotary groups were well represented in approved projects.
Local councils focused primarily on developing municipal road safety strategies while rotary groups
focused on supporting the installation of breath testing devices in licensed premises.
The assessment panel continues to emphasise the need for community groups to develop high quality
applications by:
- Carefully reading the guidelines and completing the application form in full
- Obtaining partners to the project
- Demonstrating the road safety issue through evidence and data by:
- Identifying the road safety issue and target group
- Including local crash data on the issue
- Using research to support the effectiveness of the proposed road safety solution
- Setting realistic timelines to conduct the project
- Outlining a plan for sustainability
- Including a proposal for measuring the impact of the project
In the seven rounds of the grants program, the TAC has now:
- Received 212 applications
- Approved 145 projects
- Committed to funding totalling around $2.5 million in grants
Below is a summary of successful applications in the latest round of funding.
Round 7: Approved projects
| Lead Organisation | Focus | Grant |
|---|---|---|
|
2011 Kneeboard Titles (Phillip Island) | Courtesy Bus for Country Event. Pilot a community bus during an event to reduce drink driving. Use of breathalyser devices will be promoted. This pilot will contribute to future community/licensee commitment to the service. | $4,750 |
| Ararat Rural City Council | New Road Safety Strategy. Development of new road safety strategy for a rural community with focus on areas of high pedestrian activity and high crash areas. | $20,000 |
| Brimbank City Council | Redevelopment of Road Safety Strategy. A new road safety strategy with a focus on analysis and planning for vulnerable road users including pedestrians and motorcyclists. | $20,000 |
| Cardinia Shire Council | Local Roads - Safer Speeds. Purchase and deployment of mobile speed advisory devices to reduce speeding in local streets and support other measures implemented by council. | $20,000 |
| Cardinia Shire Council | Development of Road Safety Strategy 2011-2014. The new road safety strategy will include a focus on pedestrians, crashes on the rural fringe and run-off-road crashes. | $15,000 |
| City of Stonnington | Below .05 in Sporting Clubs in Stonnington. Installation of breathalyser devices in council sporting facilities and working with clubs to address drink driving issues. | $19,800 |
| City of Whitehorse | Transit Program. Safe walking program for children moving from primary to secondary school who are starting to use public transport or walk independently. The program will use existing school programs and include practice in real traffic situations. | $10,000 |
| East Gippsland Shire Council | East Gippsland Road Safety Strategy. Development of a new road safety strategy with a focus on addressing high crash rates on local roads and crashes in which motorcyclists are involved. | $20,000 |
| Hobsons Bay City Council | Older Driver Infrastructure Demonstration Project. Pilot of new signage to make hazardous areas more conspicuous to assist the ageing population, particularly at intersections. This project follows sound Australian and international research. | $20,000 |
| Interact Australia (Morwell) | Integrated 21+. Driver education project for disadvantaged youth aged 21 and over, including road safety on issues such as alcohol and drugs, and support in licensing. | $20,000 |
| KidSafe Victoria Inc | Attitudes to and Usage of Child Restraints Since the New Child Restraint Legislation. A two-stage research project. The research intends to analyse parents' knowledge and understanding of the child restraint rules 12 months after implementation. Results of the study will inform education programs. | $20,000 |
| Knox Triathlon Club |
Simulated Public Road Bicycle Racing in a Safe Location. Pilot of road racing simulation technology to reduce exposure of cycle racers training and practising on the road. It will aim to determine whether simulated racing practice is viable for the target group - male riders aged 20 to 50 years who are over-represented in cyclist injuries and fatalities. | $15,000 |
|
Mission Australia (Darebin) | Ignition. Pre-learner education program for disadvantaged youth in Darebin LGA to help them develop road safety behaviours and obtain their Learner Permits. The funding will be used to develop the existing program to enable access to young Victorians across the state. | $20,000 |
| Rotary Club of Casterton | Are you Right to Drive? Alcohol Education. Installation of breathalyser devices in licensed premises, sporting clubs and at community events, together with road safety messages to reduce drink driving and alcohol-related road trauma. | $20,000 |
| Rotary Club of Footscray | Breathometer. Implementation of a breathalyser program to educate patrons at community events and other activities about BAC levels and to reduce alcohol-related road trauma and driving offences. | $20,000 |
|
Rotary Club of Laverton Point Cook |
Are you Right to Drive? Alcohol Education. Implementation of a breathalyser program to educate patrons in licensed premises and other venues about BAC levels and to reduce alcohol-related road trauma and driving offences. | $20,000 |
|
Rotary Club of Mildura Deakin |
Are you Right to Drive? Alcohol Education. Implementation of a breathalyser program to educate patrons in licensed premises and other venues about BAC levels and to reduce alcohol-related road trauma and driving offences. | $20,000 |
| Warrnambool City Council | Speed Advisory Signs. Speed advisory unit for deployment in local streets to reduce speed related road trauma. | $18,100 |
| Total | $327,650 |
Road safety issues for new arrivals
As reported in a previous issue of Update there is significant concern for the road safety of newly arrived people from other countries who settle in Victoria on humanitarian grounds. Most concerns relate to safe driving and understanding the Victorian road system, including the licensing process.
The TAC receives requests for information or statistics relating to new arrival drivers compared to the general driving public. This is because these drivers are seen by the public as being at greater risk of causing crashed than Australian born or those who have settled from countries with a motorised society.
A number of organisations have responded to this concern by establishing support programs, including education and on-road supervised driving practice, licensing, purchasing a vehicle and the roles of police, the courts and the sherrif's office.
In response to this emerging issue, the TAC and the RACV have commissioned research to develop an understanding of the road safety issues and experiences of new arrivals both before and after licensing as a Victorian driver and their participation in locally developed programs.
The study involves a literature review, consultation with key stakeholders in the fields of road safety, licensing and settlement, and a survey of approximately 500 new arrivals to Victoria on their driving experience prior to and since arriving in Victoria. The survey is currently in field and includes questions on licensing, infringements and crashes.
The TAC and RACV expect to be able to share the findings of the report around April 2011.
Cyclist safety projects
There has been discussion in the community and media about the safety of cyclists. Of the 145 approved TAC Community Road Safety Grants projects, 11 directly address cyclist safety and are being conducted by a range of organisations including cycling clubs/groups, health groups and local government. Projects focus on a range of issues including:
- Cycling skills for older riders
- ' Share the road' communications to drivers and cyclists
- Online video vignettes to address the key crash types for cyclists
- Cycling skills for newly arrived migrants from the Burmese Karen community
Twenty-one projects have been approved to develop municipal road safety strategies, some of which identify cyclist safety as a community road safety issue.
Vulnerable road users, including cyclists, benefit significantly when speed limits are managed to reduce the risk of accidents. Seventeen projects have been funded to address speed on local streets and roads, which will benefit cyclists who use those roads.
The TAC encourages local groups to consider cyclist safety in their communities and, where appropriate, submit an application that aims to address the issue. Groups should ensure their applications contain data to support the issue and that projects are not eligible for funding through other sources.
Opportunities for 2010/11
Closing date:
- Round 8 – Friday 11 February 2011
Applications must be received at the TAC no later than 4.00 pm on the closing date.
By Post:
Transport Accident Commission
Community Road Safety Grants
PO Box 742
GEELONG VIC 3220
By Courier:
Transport Accident Commission
Community Road Safety Grants
60 Brougham Street
GEELONG VIC 3220
To discuss your project idea, please contact the Road Safety Grants Officer on (03) 5225 6954. Guidelines and application forms can be accessed at www.tac.vic.gov.au – click on 'Grants & Partnerships' then on 'Community Road Safety Grants'.
The information in this update is also available online at www.tac.vic.gov.au.
