To mark the first year of the international Decade of Action for Road Safety, Parliamentary Secretary for Infrastructure and Transport, Catherine King, has officially opened a forum at Old Parliament House.
The Decade of Action for Road Safety was instigated by a United Nations resolution co-sponsored by 100 countries, including the Australian Government.
“Road safety is truly a global issue and I was honoured last year to host the Australian launch of the Decade of Action for Road Safety,” said Ms King.
“Approximately 1.3 million people die on the world’s roads each year and up to 50 million people sustain non-fatal injuries, with a large proportion of this trauma occurring in developing nations.”
The anniversary event was organised by the Australasian College of Road Safety and ARRB Group, with support from the NRMA-ACT Road Safety Trust, the AAA and ANCAP.
The purpose of the forum is to bring together key road safety agencies and individuals who are making a difference in road safety.
The forum is an opportunity to discuss the progress made in the first year of the UN Decade of Action and to share the outcomes of Australia’s National Road Safety Strategy.
“Today’s forum provides us with an excellent opportunity to take stock of the outcomes from the first year of the Decade of Action and the first twelve months of our own ten-year National Road Safety Strategy and to discuss future directions,” said Ms King.
“Over the course of the Decade of Action we have a unique opportunity to look not only at the Australian experience but also at the global situation, to share ideas, experiences and expertise, and strive for sustainable solutions.”