Application of a two-stage evaluation process in the development of a Road Safety Action Plan

Title: Application of a two-stage evaluation process in the development of a Road Safety Action Plan Authors: Sara Liu (Monash University Accident Research Centre); David Healy (Monash University Accident Research Centre); David Logan (Monash University Accident Research Centre); and Bruce Corben (Monash University Accident Research Centre) Based on the safe-systems framework, The Department of Infrastructure, Energy and Resources (DIER) and Monash University Accident Research Centre (MUARC) have collaborated in an effort to develop an evidence-based approach to identifying recommendations in support of the Tasmanian Road Safety Strategy Action Plan (2007-2016). Guided by four safe-systems strategic directions, a workshop was conducted to discuss and evaluate a comprehensive series of initiatives listed under each domain, with the aim of extrapolating high priority areas that have the greatest potential to reduce serious casualties. This process involved utilising a novel, systematic, set of criteria to evaluate each initiative, followed by the use of the Macro Estimates for Target Setting (METs) model to quantify initiatives that 1) were found to be of highest priority and 2) were able to be modelled. This paper will discuss this two-stage evaluation process and present the outcomes obtained. Results found highlighted and informed priority areas that, if incorporated into the next stages of the Tasmanian Road Safety Action Plan, have the potential to significantly reduce the number of serious casualties occurring on Tasmania’s roads over the life of the current strategy. This research provides an example of how a two-step evaluation process can be applied to assess potential initiatives in future road safety strategies. Furthermore, this evaluation process provides evidence-based projections of serious casualty savings likely to be achieved through implementation of selected initiatives.