Brisbane Line October 2010 - Road Trauma is Breaking the Nation

[SurfRail]

Gold Coast lines and Sunshine Coast lines just can't compete on speed or frequency.

Until everybody starts driving. 

This is what we call "game theory".

[#Metro]

Until everybody starts driving.

This is what we call "game theory".

SurfRail, almost everybody IS driving. 80% of trips or something.

Oh, and when holidays come around, all the frequency drops off as Sunday timetable is put on!

Nice backlog of traffic heading to the Gold Coast today....

I remember years ago being caught in a massive traffic jam on the Bruce Hwy coming back from a trip to Fraser Is. We literally were just crawling along, my cat could probably outrun the traffic!

[Mr X]

I was stuck in a traffic jam to the Gold Coast on Christmas Day! Seems to be one of the busiest days for highway travel 

Assuming you're not going to Brisbane and magically arrive at the station exactly before the train is set to arrive, the train is pretty much as quick as the car when travelling between stations on the coast. Once you hit Beenleigh, it's rotten apple. Suddenly you're confronted with a station for every micro-suburb, tight turns, slower running speeds etc. while Bob in his big SUV can waltz on buy on the highway at 100km/h...
Thank christ our GC line isn't used as a shuttle to Beenleigh for de-training to an all stopper. That would be horrible.

[HappyTrainGuy]

Traffic? Christmas day? Went from Wynnum to Boondall in about 20 mins

[Mr X]

Stuck for 20mins at Nerang 

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Police despair as army of speeders and drunks detected on the road during Christmas break

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> National road toll reaches twenty five

Apart from the loss of lives, statistically 25 x 25 = 625 people admitted to hospitals with serious injuries result of road crashes ...

The media cannot grasp the fact that injuries also need to be reported constantly, it might help to encourage some better behaviours and  mode shifts ...

[ozbob]

Fools ...

Couriemail --> Queensland motorists speeding, drink-driving in record numbers over festive season

[Jonno]

Couriermail --> National road toll reaches twenty five

Apart from the loss of lives, statistically 25 x 25 = 625 people admitted to hospitals with serious injuries result of road crashes ...

The media cannot grasp the fact that injuries also need to be reported constantly, it might help to encourage some better behaviours and  mode shifts ...

Media also simply eat up the line that the solution is better roads (aka road expansions and freeways) and driver education.  Driving is inherently unsafe as there a 1 operator per vehicle and vehicles have no fail safe. Something goes wrong (physically, operator related, etc.) then an accident results

[Stillwater]

Media take the view that more people drive cars than catch trains and buses, therefore the bigger audience (for them) is the car owner / driver.  They forget that it is hard to read a newspaper or operate your tablet or I-phone while driving a car.

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Decorated RAAF flight lieutenant Shane Dryden mourned after fatal Gatton crash

269 fatalities in Queensland for the year,  again the media and police fail to highlight the terrible injury toll as well.  269 fatalities means on average about 6,700 admissions to hospital following road crashes, most very serious and many with consequent life long injuries to cope with ...

[ozbob]

Twitter

Robert_Dow Robert Dow

@QPSmedia you need to highlight the shocking injury toll as well --> http://t.co/PDzuOHjC this might help to drive road behaviour changes
31 seconds ago

[ozbob]

Transport and Multicultural Affairs
The Honourable Annastacia Palaszczuk
08/01/2012

Confronting new ad shows buckling up just as important today as it was 40 years ago

A confronting new advertising campaign which graphically highlights the devastating effects of not buckling up will hit Queensland television screens tonight - 40 years after laws were introduced to make wearing seatbelts compulsory.

Transport Minister Annastacia Palaszczuk said the Better Buckle Up campaign did not pull any punches in depicting the fatal results of failing to wear a seatbelt in the event of a car crash.

"The simple fact is that without a seatbelt to hold your body back, your internal organs continue travelling forwards in a crash - cracking ribs, puncturing lungs and tearing arteries," Ms Palaszczuk said.

"Yes, this advertising campaign is in your face - it has to be because seatbelts save lives and we can never overlook the fact that we need to be continually reminding all Queenslanders of that simple fact.

"In the first 10 months of 2011, there were 24 deaths on our roads that might have been prevented if those people who were tragically killed had been wearing a seatbelt."

Ms Palaszczuk said 2012 marked the 40th anniversary of the compulsory wearing of seatbelts in Queensland.

"And I think a comparison of figures between the 1970s and now speaks volumes for the number of lives that have been saved since that landmark.

"In the early 1970s, our road toll peaked at almost 640 deaths or around 30 fatalities for every 100,000 people.

"Any road death is one death too many but our current rate of road deaths is less than six fatalities for every 100,000 people and that's a far cry from the days when cars were not fitted with seatbelts.

"Seatbelts are saving the lives of Queenslanders every day and research shows that buckling up improves a person's chance of surviving a crash by up to 50 per cent.

"It's such a quick and simple task that I think the sheer magnitude of its life-saving potential is largely lost on us."

The key target audiences for the new campaign are males aged 17-24 and 30-49 and extensive market research in both metropolitan and regional Queensland has been carried out.

Ms Palaszczuk said the advertisement was based on a successful seatbelt safety campaign which had aired in the United Kingdom and locally resonated strongly with the target audiences who felt the new information presented in the ad would most likely change their attitudes and behaviours towards seatbelt use.

"These target audiences grossly underestimated the potential damage caused by not wearing a seatbelt in a seemingly minor crash and they were subsequently motivated by this campaign's compelling and realistic images.

"So I implore Queenslanders to drive safely and buckle up - we want all Queenslanders to be here for life."

Seatbelts - the facts

·      In the first 10 months of 2011, 24 people died as a result of not wearing a seatbelt, representing 27.6% of all vehicle occupant fatalities within Queensland, where seatbelt use was known.

·      This follows on from the 2010 calendar year, during which 31 people died as a result of not wearing a seatbelt, representing 28.7% of all vehicle occupant fatalities within Queensland, where the restraint use was known.

·      Fatalities as a result of not wearing a seatbelt are more likely to occur outside Queensland's south-east corner, when compared to population density. The following table shows seatbelt-related fatalities in Queensland during the 2010-2011 financial year, by population density.

Queensland regions (grouped by population density)      Deaths resulting from not wearing a seatbelt    Percentage of Queensland population (ABS 2010 preliminary population figures)

o   Coastal south-east Queensland   8       59.8%

o   South-east Queensland outer rim and coastal provincial cities from the Bundaberg to Mackay      7       22.0%

o   Regions surrounding Queensland's regional population centres (including regions around Cairns, Townsville, Mackay, Emerald, Biloela, Goondiwindi)       4       15.2%

o   Remote Queensland (including Mt Isa, Cloncurry, Roma)   3       1.9%

o   Very remote Queensland (including Charleville, Birdsville, Longreach, Burketown, Weipa) 6       1.1%



·      Males aged 17-24 and 30-49 represent the most at-risk groups in terms of seatbelt use. Of the 191 unrestrained vehicle occupant fatalities in Queensland during the five calendar years from 2006 to 2010:

o   40 (80%) of the 50 people killed in the 17-24 age bracket were male

o   37 (90.2%) of the 41 people killed in the 30-39 age bracket were male

o   25 (80.6 per cent) of the 31 people killed in the 40-49 age bracket were male.

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> No seatbelt, no engine for Qld drivers

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> State road toll at double the 2011 figure

Sent to all outlets:

19th January 2012

Road trauma is breaking the nation

==========================

http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?action=articles;sa=view;article=3

Summary: The road trauma cost is a drain on our economy. It is not sustainable. It is now clear that as a nation we must move to safe sustainable transport systems for people and bulk freight. Road trauma is breaking the nation

There are few Australians that have not felt the grief, the loss, the hopelessness, of the ongoing tragedy of the consequences of road trauma. Every day the media chronicles the sad litany.  A recent study commissioned by the Australasian Railway Association on the cost of road crashes has revealed the cost in blunt economic terms (1).  Previous estimates have been conservative underestimates; this latest rigorous systematic study has revealed the costs of road fatalities and trauma to be in the order of at least thirty five billion dollars annually.  This figure is going to increase rapidly as the road injury management costs continue to climb.  There is a much wider social cost to be added but for now let us just consider the economic impact of the road trauma.

This road trauma cost is a drain on our economy.  It is not sustainable.  It is now clear that as a nation we must move to safe sustainable transport systems for people and bulk freight.  Investment in safe public transport through infrastructure and operating subsidies actually saves money.  This is a lesson transport planners and governments everywhere must heed.  The massive expenditure on roads is leading to unmanageable cost impacts.  Investment in safe transport systems is actually saving money.  Next time you are held up at a railway crossing as a packed peak hour commuter train passes, give out three cheers.  Those passengers are saving you and Australia ultimately a lot of pain.

Rail is approximately 40 times safer than travel by car.  Travel by bus is about 10 times safer than travel by car.  It is clear that we need to start maximizing use of our rail networks, and support those networks with bus transport to feed rail stations where possible.  A major project such as the Cross River Rail Tunnel for Brisbane is actually going to return huge savings.  The tunnel is equivalent to a 30 lane road highway in terms of passenger capacity.  Why haven't we started the actual digging?

The rail network in south east Queensland is underutilised.  It is time to increase train frequency on all the major lines.  Ideally no less frequent than 15 minutes in off peak periods during the day, peak times more frequent as loadings demand.  Weekends, holidays and after 9pm at night no less frequent than 20 minutes.  Properly support the increased rail frequency with a coordinated feeder bus network.  Make travel by public transport attractive.  The present rail timetable in South East Queensland has one of the worst train frequencies in Australia and for comparable size cities worldwide.  A high frequency rail service makes bus rail connections much more functional and encourages people to get out of their cars and onto safe transport.

The social isolation of cars is something we seldom consider.  In the 1950s, family trips to visit relatives in the country or city were usually by rail, an adventure and sharing an experience with others.  There was a feeling of community and belonging and the opportunity to meet new folk.  Many encounters on public transport have endured as long lasting friendships.   The social isolation of cars is not conducive for a healthy community.  The increasing demand for anti-depressant medications for example is a sign of an increasingly unhappy nation.  Little wonder when one considers the terrifying impact of the road toll.  Regular travel by public transport is a community experience.  There is social contact and a feeling of belonging.  Most journeys by public transport involve an element of active transport, walking or perhaps a bicycle ride to and from the bus or rail stations at departure and end points of the public transport ride.  This active transport leads to healthy outcomes.  There is a reduction in obesity and diabetes, both conditions that are costly for our communities and health care.

We need roads, but we must start to correct the imbalance in funding that is road centric.  There are signs that those in government are starting to hear this message.  Recent commitments for the long overdue Petrie to Kippa-Ring railway in Queensland and the railway from Parramatta to Epping in New South Wales are very welcome. But much more needs to be done.  In south-east Queensland here are some immediate rail priorities:  extend the Gold Coast railway to Coolangatta, duplicate the Sunshine Coast line from Beerburrum to Landsborough and eventually to Nambour, full duplication of the Cleveland line beyond Manly, Coomera to Helensvale duplication, Lawnton to Petrie triplication, Kuraby to Kingston triplication, Darra to Redbank triplication, and electrification from Rosewood to Gatton.  These improvements are needed to provide the backbone of a safe sustainable public transport network for a sustainable future.

To augment the heavy rail network, bus rapid transit and light rail has its role. The Gold Coast light rail is going to herald a change in our thinking.  Modern light rail is a superb people mover.  The loss of the tram system in Brisbane in 1969 can only be described as a disaster.  If the tram system had been kept operational it would have evolved as has the tram network in Melbourne which is now the greatest tram system in the world.  However, in the years to come there will be opportunities to return modern light rail to Brisbane, and it is the Gold Coast light rail that will alert citizens to what is possible.  Continued support for active transport options is also very cost effective.  Expansions of the bicycle path network are sensible, but also improve the amenity for pedestrians, the walkers.

The most important factor in driving public transport uptake is frequency.  The train frequency can be increased very quickly.  The other projects will take a little longer.  Now is the time to start to shake off the economic straight jacket of road trauma.  We must, the costs of road trauma are breaking our nation.

Reference:

1.  Australasian Railway Association Inc  The cost of road crashes: A review of key issues Dr Richard Tooth  http://www.ara.net.au/UserFiles/file/Publications/TheCostofRoadCrashesReport.pdf


Mr Robert Dow is the administrator and founder of RAIL Back On Track http://backontrack.org  a web based community group that advocates for sustainable transport solutions.

Robert is by profession a Medical Scientist, and is a Life member and Fellow of the Australian Institute of Medical Scientists.

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track http://backontrack.org

==============

4BC News have followed up for their news bulletins.  Thank you,  anything to help reduce the sad fatality and injury toll is worthwhile ..

[ozbob]

Melbourne Age --> Fringe dwellers cop brunt of road trauma

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

16th March 2012

Road carnage continues unabated, time for rail action

Greetings,

Road trauma continues unabated.  How about the media actually highlighting the injuries as well as the fatalities? The cost of managing the maimed and traumatised is mounting,  greater than $20 billion annually and increasing exponentially.

Bulk freight must be moved back to rail, trucks are causing massive trauma, and constant damage to the road network.

This is how freight should be moved -->  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ZN5tYIBvlA&sns=fb

Road trauma is breaking the nation --> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?action=articles;sa=view;article=3

An observation, yesterday I had occasion to journey on that road basket case called the Ipswich Highway.  I was travelling at 90 km/h the speed limit, there were numerous trucks, including B doubles speeding and weaving on the highway.  No wonder we have massive road trauma.

No more roads should be built in Brisbane, what is needed is a safe sustainable rail network, supplemented by bus and ferry and improved active transport support.  Cross River Rail is an essential part of our transport future.

Where is the LNP?

South-east Queensland is heading for transport failure unless we change the paradigm from roads to rail.

Best wishes
Robert

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track http://backontrack.org

[ozbob]

http://qpsmedia.govspace.gov.au/2012/04/23/state-traffic-support-branch-media-release/

Queensland Police Service News

State Traffic Support Branch – Media Release
April 23, 2012, 1:09 pm

Police will launch a new high visibility road safety operation following a tragic weekend on Queensland roads.

Nine people were killed and several more were seriously injured on roads throughout Queensland at the weekend.

State Traffic Support Branch Chief Superintendent Bob Gee urged drivers to be careful.

"We will be working our hardest this week to try to turn things around.

"While we will be conducting high visibility operations over Anzac Day and into the weekend, we could be anywhere at anytime," Chief Superintendent Gee said.

"We need the community to become part of the fight against the road toll. They can do this by driving to the conditions, being courteous to other drivers and showing patience.

"Motorists are reminded of the Fatal Four: don't speed, don't drink and drive, don't drive tired and always make sure that everyone in the vehicle is appropriately restrained."

Officers from the State Traffic Support Branch will concentrate on areas known to be high use recreational roads such as Mount Nebo and the hinterlands of the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast.

With people celebrating Anzac Day on Wednesday, it is important that motorists make appropriate arrangements if they intend to drink.

"The use of a designated driver or public transport are two ways that people can avoid drink driving and being involved in a crash.

"If you are with someone who intends to drink and drive then do the right thing and make arrangements so that they do not get into a vehicle and drive," Chief Superintendent Gee said.

[Jonno]

Why will Police Service not accept that the only way to significantly reduce road deaths is to get people and freight off the road.??

[Golliwog]

Why will Police Service not accept that the only way to significantly reduce road deaths is to get people and freight off the road.??

Because that's not their job?

[Jonno]

Why will Police Service not accept that the only way to significantly reduce road deaths is to get people and freight off the road.??

Because that's not their job?

Sorry Their job is not to save lives?  That's a first!

[Golliwog]

Saving lives: Yes.
Dictating government freight policy and planning: No.

[Jonno]

Saving lives: Yes.
Dictating government freight policy and planning: No.

Nothing stopping them from suggesting in peak periods that rail & public transport is safer.

[Gazza]

Saving lives: Yes.
Dictating government freight policy and planning: No.

Nothing stopping them from suggesting in peak periods that rail & public transport is safer.

Dunno why you have to be so hard core about people not driving at all because its safer. Yeah, we all know of the benefits of PT, but you don't have to push that barrow over every little thing. People are still going to drive for their own reasons....People drive cars in Japan, where PT is amazing and driving is expensive.

The message was aimed at people to be more careful, in the act of driving?

Do you own a car Jonno. A family member?

[Jonno]

Saving lives: Yes.
Dictating government freight policy and planning: No.

Nothing stopping them from suggesting in peak periods that rail & public transport is safer.

Dunno why you have to be so hard core about people not driving at all because its safer. Yeah, we all know of the benefits of PT, but you don't have to push that barrow over every little thing. People are still going to drive for their own reasons....People drive cars in Japan, where PT is amazing and driving is expensive.

The message was aimed at people to be more careful, in the act of driving?

Do you own a car Jonno. A family member?

Yes I do but use it sparingly and usually because PT frequency makes trip impossible or carying goods. 

I guess 1500+ deaths a year it just part of modern life and 40 billion in trauma costs is just part of living.  Please tell that to the family, colleagues and friends of those killed or maimed each year!

Sorry I cant and wont back down until that number is significantly lower...and bigger, faster roads are not going to deliver that change.  Nor is pleading with idiot drivers to slow down and drive safely.  Not by a long shot.

[Gazza]

Yes I do but use it sparingly and usually because PT frequency makes trip impossible or carying goods.

So the thing you can get out of the QPSs message is to be careful when driving.

Also, they mentioned PT in the release at least once.

The use of a designated driver or public transport are two ways that people can avoid drink driving and being involved in a crash.

Nor is pleading with idiot drivers to slow down and drive safely.

A media release from the QPS telling people to be safe on the roads is ineffective, but a media release from the QPS telling people to take PT would be effective?

[Jonno]

Don't worry. I think the medical industry is also far to quiet on the subject.

[johnnigh]

It is time to focus on the fundamental reasons for driving and for avoiding using roads without carrying a car around oneself:
1. our very high urban speed limits, 60 for arterial roads and 50 otherwise, with a derisory amount of 40 in the confusing schools zones and a few shopping precincts and the CBD. These limits are designed to kill and maim at the rates we experience. Decisions about speed limits are taken in light of the trauma that will be experienced relative to the political cost of lower limits. In other words, speed limits are a political fix determined by the strength of political will for change facing entrenched prejudice from the unthinking public.
2. our legal system privileges car drivers in situations where a car is involved in an incident with a pedestrian or a cyclist. Magistrates and police are all car drivers and have a long established culture of excuse for themselves as drivers, so prosecuting other drivers is similar to prosecuting themselves - there but for the grace of god etc . This goes a long way to explaining the treatment drivers get in these situations.

Solutions are difficult but there is always hope: speed limit reduction is not impossible; road safety opinion amongst researchers and middle level bureaucrats is clearly in favour of lowering limits, all that remains is for those opinions to infect champions in the political system, as happened in Europe way back in the 60s/70s. Similarly, the existence of 'strict liability' laws in Europe is being carefully watched, with only political champions lacking.

We have to keep pressure on our politicians as best we can, gaining support from whatever power players can be found, which is BOT's long-used strategy in any case, and is successful in the long run as we know. BOT is not alone, of course. The 700 member CBDBUG is another pushing this agenda in Brisbane, Amy Gillett Foundation another very high profile lobby group (that, I think, has some help from none other than Mark Textor, pollster and cyclist).

Changing acceptable bogan opinion on both these issues is a big job and is taking time, but it will happen.

[Jonno]

It is time to focus on the fundamental reasons for driving and for avoiding using roads without carrying a car around oneself:
1. our very high urban speed limits, 60 for arterial roads and 50 otherwise, with a derisory amount of 40 in the confusing schools zones and a few shopping precincts and the CBD. These limits are designed to kill and maim at the rates we experience. Decisions about speed limits are taken in light of the trauma that will be experienced relative to the political cost of lower limits. In other words, speed limits are a political fix determined by the strength of political will for change facing entrenched prejudice from the unthinking public.
2. our legal system privileges car drivers in situations where a car is involved in an incident with a pedestrian or a cyclist. Magistrates and police are all car drivers and have a long established culture of excuse for themselves as drivers, so prosecuting other drivers is similar to prosecuting themselves - there but for the grace of god etc . This goes a long way to explaining the treatment drivers get in these situations.

Solutions are difficult but there is always hope: speed limit reduction is not impossible; road safety opinion amongst researchers and middle level bureaucrats is clearly in favour of lowering limits, all that remains is for those opinions to infect champions in the political system, as happened in Europe way back in the 60s/70s. Similarly, the existence of 'strict liability' laws in Europe is being carefully watched, with only political champions lacking.

We have to keep pressure on our politicians as best we can, gaining support from whatever power players can be found, which is BOT's long-used strategy in any case, and is successful in the long run as we know. BOT is not alone, of course. The 700 member CBDBUG is another pushing this agenda in Brisbane, Amy Gillett Foundation another very high profile lobby group (that, I think, has some help from none other than Mark Textor, pollster and cyclist).

Changing acceptable bogan opinion on both these issues is a big job and is taking time, but it will happen.

+1

[#Metro]

A media release from the QPS telling people to be safe on the roads is ineffective, but a media release from the QPS telling people to take PT would be effective?

Yes, it would be the most UNPRECEDENTED UNBELIEVABLE thing and a first - VERY newsworthy and make people sit up and take notice.
Very effective during special events and holiday times.

I don't subscribe to an anti-roads philosophy, and in fact, fast arterial roads with limited access (50 km/hour) are essential to the operation of the Core Frequent Network (Bus). Slow roads within suburban areas that are indirect and windy and cul-de-sacs slow down traffic but also make bus penetration impossible. So be careful about making very general statements equating PT=good, roads=bad.

[SurfRail]

I don't subscribe to an anti-roads philosophy, and in fact, fast arterial roads with limited access (50 km/hour) are essential to the operation of the Core Frequent Network (Bus). Slow roads within suburban areas that are indirect and windy and cul-de-sacs slow down traffic but also make bus penetration impossible. So be careful about making very general statements equating PT=good, roads=bad.

+1

[ozbob]

I think most people understand that roads are needed.

The issue is the funding imbalance and the continuing costs of road trauma.  Better speed limits might well reduce those costs - social and economic. 

One thing is certain, Brisbane is headlong into a significant transport failure unless there are some changes.

[ozbob]

From the Couriermail click here!

Horror road toll fails to put brakes on as drives continue to break rules

Horror road toll fails to put brakes on as drives continue to break rules

    by: Rose Brennan and Selina Steele
    From: The Courier-Mail
    May 01, 2012 12:00AM

DRIVERS are continuing to flout the road rules, despite a horror month on Queensland roads.

This month, there has been a fatal accident almost every day, with 24 people having died in road crashes since midnight April 1 - six more than the same period for last year.

State Traffic Support branch Superintendent Andy Morrow said police had issued 18,227 tickets for speeding and arrested 1799 drink drivers in the period from last Monday to midday Sunday.

"Speed and drink-driving are identified as two of the Fatal Four. They are a significant contributor to serious traffic crashes in this state. Drivers need to slow down and not drink and drive," he said.

Car crashes are costing Queensland billions of dollars per year as the bill for vehicle damage, hospitalisation and insurance costs soar.

A report from the Federal Government's Department of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development and Local Government found the annual cost of road crashes in Queensland to be the third most expensive in the country after NSW and Victoria. Their recent figures show:

• Crashes in Queensland cost $3.55 billion.

• Of the $3.55 billion, hospitalisations from crashes cost Queensland $1.29 billion.

• Non-hospitalised injuries cost Queensland $87.8 million.

• Every fatality costs $2.67 million.

• The annual cost of fatalities in Queensland is $827.7 million.

This year alone more than 13,500 insurance claims have been lodged for motor accidents with Suncorp Insurance for an average cost of $2500.

Suncorp Executive General Manager of Claims Jason McCracken said the "true cost of a motor accident" extends beyond the vehicle repair costs with the social impacts much more costly.

Robert Humay, 53, was riding a motorbike on a Cairns roundabout when he collided with a car on March 31, and he is still recovering at home from the serious injuries he sustained.

Mr Humay was left with five broken ribs, a broken collarbone, a bruised left foot and pelvis and groin injuries. The damage to the motorbike cost $4000 and he has lost "at least $10,000 in income".

The scene of the accident has been nominated by a fellow reader as a Courier-Mail Hot Spot.

The roundabout intersects Mount Millman Drive, Captain Cook Highway and Kennedy Highway in Smithfield, a suburb 15 minutes north of Cairns and Bruce MacDonald, 44, said there were "four or five crashes every week at this spot".

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

1st May 2012

Road trauma is breaking the nation

Greetings,

The Couriermail has highlighted some of the costs of road trauma.

From the Couriermail click here!

Horror road toll fails to put brakes on as drives continue to break rules

Horror road toll fails to put brakes on as drives continue to break rules

     by: Rose Brennan and Selina Steele
     From: The Courier-Mail
     May 01, 2012 12:00AM

DRIVERS are continuing to flout the road rules, despite a horror month on Queensland roads.

This month, there has been a fatal accident almost every day, with 24 people having died in road crashes since midnight April 1 - six more than the same period for last year.

State Traffic Support branch Superintendent Andy Morrow said police had issued 18,227 tickets for speeding and arrested 1799 drink drivers in the period from last Monday to midday Sunday.

"Speed and drink-driving are identified as two of the Fatal Four. They are a significant contributor to serious traffic crashes in this state. Drivers need to slow down and not drink and drive," he said.

Car crashes are costing Queensland billions of dollars per year as the bill for vehicle damage, hospitalisation and insurance costs soar.

A report from the Federal Government's Department of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development and Local Government found the annual cost of road crashes in Queensland to be the third most expensive in the country after NSW and Victoria. Their recent figures show:

• Crashes in Queensland cost $3.55 billion.

• Of the $3.55 billion, hospitalisations from crashes cost Queensland $1.29 billion.

• Non-hospitalised injuries cost Queensland $87.8 million.

• Every fatality costs $2.67 million.

• The annual cost of fatalities in Queensland is $827.7 million.

This year alone more than 13,500 insurance claims have been lodged for motor accidents with Suncorp Insurance for an average cost of $2500.

Suncorp Executive General Manager of Claims Jason McCracken said the "true cost of a motor accident" extends beyond the vehicle repair costs with the social impacts much more costly.

Robert Humay, 53, was riding a motorbike on a Cairns roundabout when he collided with a car on March 31, and he is still recovering at home from the serious injuries he sustained.

Mr Humay was left with five broken ribs, a broken collarbone, a bruised left foot and pelvis and groin injuries. The damage to the motorbike cost $4000 and he has lost "at least $10,000 in income".

The scene of the accident has been nominated by a fellow reader as a Courier-Mail Hot Spot.

The roundabout intersects Mount Millman Drive, Captain Cook Highway and Kennedy Highway in Smithfield, a suburb 15 minutes north of Cairns and Bruce MacDonald, 44, said there were "four or five crashes every week at this spot".

What is not made clear is that many of the injuries require expensive life long management which is going to raise exponentially the cost of injuries overall.

They are correct with the assertion that drivers continue to break the road rules.  Why is it when I travel on the Ipswich Highway and I am travelling on the speed limit, trucks - often B doubles pass me at speed.  It is time police acted to slow down heavy transport.

There are solutions.    Time to move from a road centric transport system towards one that is more safe and sustainable.

This is how bulk freight should be moved -- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ZN5tYIBvlA&sns=fb

Best wishes
Robert

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track http://backontrack.org

=============================================

Summary: The road trauma cost is a drain on our economy. It is not sustainable. It is now clear that as a nation we must move to safe sustainable transport systems for people and bulk freight.

Road trauma is breaking the nation

There are few Australians that have not felt the grief, the loss, the hopelessness, of the ongoing tragedy of the consequences of road trauma. Every day the media chronicles the sad litany.  A recent study commissioned by the Australasian Railway Association on the cost of road crashes has revealed the cost in blunt economic terms (1).  Previous estimates have been conservative underestimates; this latest rigorous systematic study has revealed the costs of road fatalities and trauma to be in the order of at least thirty five billion dollars annually.  This figure is going to increase rapidly as the road injury management costs continue to climb.  There is a much wider social cost to be added but for now let us just consider the economic impact of the road trauma.

This road trauma cost is a drain on our economy.  It is not sustainable.  It is now clear that as a nation we must move to safe sustainable transport systems for people and bulk freight.  Investment in safe public transport through infrastructure and operating subsidies actually saves money.  This is a lesson transport planners and governments everywhere must heed.  The massive expenditure on roads is leading to unmanageable cost impacts.  Investment in safe transport systems is actually saving money.  Next time you are held up at a railway crossing as a packed peak hour commuter train passes, give out three cheers.  Those passengers are saving you and Australia ultimately a lot of pain.

Rail is approximately 40 times safer than travel by car.  Travel by bus is about 10 times safer than travel by car.  It is clear that we need to start maximizing use of our rail networks, and support those networks with bus transport to feed rail stations where possible.  A major project such as the Cross River Rail Tunnel for Brisbane is actually going to return huge savings.  The tunnel is equivalent to a 30 lane road highway in terms of passenger capacity.  Why haven't we started the actual digging?

The rail network in south east Queensland is underutilised.  It is time to increase train frequency on all the major lines.  Ideally no less frequent than 15 minutes in off peak periods during the day, peak times more frequent as loadings demand.  Weekends, holidays and after 9pm at night no less frequent than 20 minutes.  Properly support the increased rail frequency with a coordinated feeder bus network.  Make travel by public transport attractive.  The present rail timetable in South East Queensland has one of the worst train frequencies in Australia and for comparable size cities worldwide.  A high frequency rail service makes bus rail connections much more functional and encourages people to get out of their cars and onto safe transport.

The social isolation of cars is something we seldom consider.  In the 1950s, family trips to visit relatives in the country or city were usually by rail, an adventure and sharing an experience with others.  There was a feeling of community and belonging and the opportunity to meet new folk.  Many encounters on public transport have endured as long lasting friendships.   The social isolation of cars is not conducive for a healthy community.  The increasing demand for anti-depressant medications for example is a sign of an increasingly unhappy nation.  Little wonder when one considers the terrifying impact of the road toll.  Regular travel by public transport is a community experience.  There is social contact and a feeling of belonging.  Most journeys by public transport involve an element of active transport, walking or perhaps a bicycle ride to and from the bus or rail stations at departure and end points of the public transport ride.  This active transport leads to healthy outcomes.  There is a reduction in obesity and diabetes, both conditions that are costly for our communities and health care.

We need roads, but we must start to correct the imbalance in funding that is road centric.  There are signs that those in government are starting to hear this message.  Recent commitments for the long overdue Petrie to Kippa-Ring railway in Queensland and the railway from Parramatta to Epping in New South Wales are very welcome. But much more needs to be done.  In south-east Queensland here are some immediate rail priorities:  extend the Gold Coast railway to Coolangatta, duplicate the Sunshine Coast line from Beerburrum to Landsborough and eventually to Nambour, full duplication of the Cleveland line beyond Manly, Coomera to Helensvale duplication, Lawnton to Petrie triplication, Kuraby to Kingston triplication, Darra to Redbank triplication, and electrification from Rosewood to Gatton.  These improvements are needed to provide the backbone of a safe sustainable public transport network for a sustainable future.

To augment the heavy rail network, bus rapid transit and light rail has its role. The Gold Coast light rail is going to herald a change in our thinking.  Modern light rail is a superb people mover.  The loss of the tram system in Brisbane in 1969 can only be described as a disaster.  If the tram system had been kept operational it would have evolved as has the tram network in Melbourne which is now the greatest tram system in the world.  However, in the years to come there will be opportunities to return modern light rail to Brisbane, and it is the Gold Coast light rail that will alert citizens to what is possible.  Continued support for active transport options is also very cost effective.  Expansions of the bicycle path network are sensible, but also improve the amenity for pedestrians, the walkers.

The most important factor in driving public transport uptake is frequency.  The train frequency can be increased very quickly.  The other projects will take a little longer.  Now is the time to start to shake off the economic straight jacket of road trauma.  We must, the costs of road trauma are breaking our nation.

Reference:

1.  Australasian Railway Association Inc  The cost of road crashes: A review of key issues Dr Richard Tooth  http://www.ara.net.au/UserFiles/file/Publications/TheCostofRoadCrashesReport.pdf


Mr Robert Dow is the administrator and founder of RAIL Back On Track http://backontrack.org  a web based community group that advocates for sustainable transport solutions.

Robert is by profession a Medical Scientist, and is a Life member and Fellow of the Australian Institute of Medical Scientists.

[WTN]

After reading what Suncorp said about the true cost of an accident, it reminded me of a similar incident I knew.

There's a person I know who once accidentally drove into the path of a cyclist - causing not only massive damage to the car but also seriously injuring the cyclist. Police were called in, the driver was questioned and the cyclist was hospitalised. Despite the severe shock to both the driver and cyclist, the only real penalty to the driver was a $150 fine (and maybe demerit points) for failing to give way. The damaged car was paid out by automotive insurance, the injuries to the cyclist was paid by CTP insurance. The damages to the car were quoted, but CTP wasn't. So in situations like this, one would not know the true cost and flow on effects to the injured person, who is very likely to be a complete stranger.

[ozbob]

From the ABC News click here!

Supermarket pressure blamed for road deaths

Supermarket pressure blamed for road deaths
By Jeff Waters

Updated May 10, 2012 06:22:11

Trucks sit at the loading docks at a Woolworths regional distribution centre (RDC) Photo: The TWU says the supermarket chains have an impact upon the rest of the transport industry. (Giulio Saggin: ABC News)
Map: Australia

One of Australia's biggest unions is accusing the big supermarket chains of contributing to the annual road toll.

Transport Workers Union (TWU) federal president Tony Sheldon has told ABC News that the tight deadlines being imposed on drivers and trucking firms, and what they call low relative payments, are encouraging truckers to drive unsafely.

"The union is saying very clearly to Coles and the other retailers that [their] practices have to change, that they are literally killing people on our roads because of the economic pressure," he said.

"What happens with Coles and other major retailers with dominating the market at 32 per cent of road transport tasks, is that they say to manufacturers, they say to farmers and they say to transport operators that you've got to do this work the cheapest and the fastest way you possibly can.

"They're price takers, which means the trucking industry either makes the decision to do the work or they don't have a job."

Mr Sheldon said the two major supermarket chains have an impact upon the rest of the transport industry.

"When the two big gorillas make a decision, and particularly with the aggression of Coles, it means a knock-on effect occurs right across the market, right across industries above and beyond retail," he said.

"When you dominate the market to the degree they do, and have policies that actually say if you arrive outside a half-hour window you get fined; as an owner-driver or a transport company, if you come in within that half hour and we can't unload you, you could still be waiting for a day for hours," he said.

"We've got plenty of examples of people having to stay a whole day or being called back the next day without any work, without appropriate breaks, and with fatigue and economic pressure that goes on the transport companies.

"[The policies] are a damnation of this industry and the retail industry - how it squeezes the road transport industry and leads to unsafe practices."

So the union says it will embark upon series of supermarket protests today in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth to try to bring attention to the issue.

Former trucking contractor Peter Francis is in agreement with the union.

He says he recently quit the industry after spending 10 years as an owner-driver contractor working for Woolworths and Coles.

"I believe that [smaller transport firms] are struggling," he said, adding that owner-drivers often are not paid enough to keep their trucks properly maintained.

"It effects the individual drivers because they've got to work a lot harder - increase the delivery status - and it effects their performance on the road because they've got to get to places a lot quicker to complete a delivery.

"I believe Coles and Woolworths have the power to push companies around and state what price they're willing to pay."
Regulated

Australian Logistics Council chief executive Michael Kilgariff says the claims need to be substantiated.

The logistics council represents industry when freight transport and logistics regulation issues arise.

Mr Kilgariff said the retail trucking industry is adequately regulated.

"The Australian Logistics Council has a retail logistics supply chain code of practice which deals with these issues such as waiting times, and both the carriers and the supermarkets are very focused on making sure that we don't have these sorts of situations occurring," Mr Kilgariff said.

"If Tony Sheldon and the TWU have any evidence that the law is actually being broken, then they have a legal responsibility to ensure that the authorities are aware of where this is occurring so that prosecutions can commence.

"The supermarkets are currently liable under chain of responsibility laws - as is everybody in the supply chain - for incidents that may occur anywhere else in the supply chain where it can be demonstrated that they somehow caused it to happen.

"[The] chain of responsibility... is about to become a national law from January 1, 2013, and so we're going to have a national focus on these issues, and again if the TWU knows that the law is being broken, then they have an obligation to ensure that the authorities are informed."
'Unsubstantiated claims'

Neither Coles nor Woolworths would agree to be interviewed on the subject.

But in a statement, a Coles spokesman said: "We're disappointed the TWU continues to make unsubstantiated claims about our transport practices.

"We outsource our transport business to large and reputable providers, we take safe transport practices very seriously and in no way do our transport contracts force drivers into unsafe or illegal practices.

"We require our transport providers to comply with all road safety laws and regulations and all our freight contracts include fatigue management programs.

"Contrary to the TWU's claims, Coles's delivery windows into our stores are two hours, which is aligned with retail industry practice, and there are no penalties for suppliers or carriers for missing a time slot into our [distribution centres] or stores.

"Coles is a co-founder of and current signatory to the Australian Logistics Council's retail code of practice and takes chain of responsibility very seriously as being core to its operating practices".

[Jonno]

Follow @SEQincidents to just see the daily almost hourly road carnage.

[twitacc]@seqincidents[/twitacc]

[ozbob]

Twitter

QPS Media Unit ‏@QPSmedia

Police are increasingly concerned at the number of drivers who are dying on our roads this year http://fb.me/Snc4hi51

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

21 May 2012

Truck terror

Greetings,

It is time that the Government and the QPS got serious about the problem of 'truck terror'.  The roads are increasingly a basket of truck trauma, truck congestion and speeding and tailgating trucks.

A failure to properly resource safe sustainable transport systems has lead to a nightmare.  Escalating road trauma due to trucks, escalating road damage by trucks, and the consequent terrified road users, is now out of control.

Where is the real leadership?

Best wishes

Robert

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track http://backontrack.org

[ozbob]

From the Queensland Times click here!

Make this Friday fatality free

Make this Friday fatality free

21st May 2012 7:30 PM

MAY 25 is an important day. It's Fatality Free Friday - the one day a year which aims to have ZERO deaths on our roads.

Australian Transport Safety Bureau figures tell us statistically 5.3 people die on our nation's roads every day.

During the 12 months ended March 2012 there were 1,301 road fatalities Australia-wide.

Although this is a 2.0% reduction from the 12-monthly period ending March 2011, this figure still needs to be lowered and we must strive to achieve zero fatalities on our national day of road safety awareness.

Take the interactive pledge on the Fatality Free Friday page and to help make this Friday, 25th May, fatality free.