Road safety : for all road users?

Australia has an enviable record in road crash trauma reduction. Strategies promoting behavioural change eg wearing seatbelts and avoidance of alcohol have been significant. Success has been based on safer cars and safer road environments. The number of vehicles in use has increased. The number of crash victims has decreased.

One group of road users may not share this success. Previously classified as "vulnerable" road users, nonmotorised road users are people in transit; people with various access disabilities, walking, cycling or using movement devices. Increasing numbers of vehicles operating in road environments made safer for occupants of vehicles has increased risk to non-motorised road users.

As governments, for health, environmental and economic reasons, increasingly encourage walking and cycling including to public transport, road safety should ensure non-motorised road users can use road and transit systems safely, easily and conveniently.

Road safety strategies and transport opportunities should assess "safety + convenience", not just road safety, from the perspective of all road users of all ages and abilities.