Enthusiasm in Search of a Strategy: Road Safety Programs and Needs in Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Communities in Victoria
Keywords: Strategy Related
ARSRPE
Submission Date: 2007
Abstract
Victoria has a large number of people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds
and an active intake of new arrivals from developing countries. There is some international
evidence that members of CALD communities have a higher risk of involvement in crashes in their
new country. This is especially so for new arrivals from less-motorised countries. This paper
reports the results of an exploratory study of the road safety needs of CALD community members
in Victoria and the current state of program activity in this area. The results indicate that CALD
community members face significant road use challenges in Victoria, including accessing the
licensing system, obtaining experience and training to enable them to obtain a licence and drive
safely, and understanding the regulatory framework for driving in Victoria. There are few programs
available to assist CALD community members, and those that are conducted are poorly funded
and are developed without significant input from road safety experts. In addition to seeking
information from relevant organisations, this study drew on road safety and public health research
literature to make recommendations about future directions. A key recommendation was that road
safety programs for CALD community members would benefit from the development of a more-
strategic approach.