The Alesi government aims to improve the Bruce Highway’s safety through a $7.2 billion funding package. This is a crucial initiative amidst rising road fatalities nationally, where traffic deaths have increased to over 1,300 last year. Roads Australia’s Essan Vade highlighted that this funding will particularly target high-risk areas such as the Bruce Highway, advocating for the necessity of continuous investment in road safety.
A vital aspect of the recent funding announcement is the new model introduced by the federal government that provides states with greater flexibility in project implementation. This shift is crucial for ensuring projects are completed efficiently and effectively without exceeding budgets. Vade emphasized that the focus on outcomes rather than strict funding arrangements is a positive development for ensuring taxpayer value and timely delivery of road safety enhancements.
In discussing Australia's road safety in a global context, Vade noted the substantial progress made compared to other nations. However, he expressed concerns about deteriorating driving habits observed recently, suggesting a need for renewed emphasis on road safety measures. With climate challenges leading to increased road hazards, Vade asserted the urgency for similar funding commitments across Australia to maintain and enhance road infrastructure continuously.
The Alesi government has announced a significant funding package of $7.2 billion aimed at improving the Bruce Highway, a critical transport route in Queensland. Roads Australia has welcomed this initiative, emphasizing the urgent need for continuous investment in transport networks to enhance road safety across the nation. The announcement is particularly noteworthy as it comes at a time when Australia is grappling with a rising road toll, with over 1,300 fatalities recorded last year, marking a 6.1% increase from the previous year. According to Essan Vade, CEO of Roads Australia, the funding is a vital step forward in addressing the rising number of road fatalities, particularly in high-risk areas like the Bruce Highway. Vade highlighted that the majority of the funding will benefit Tier 2 and Tier 3 construction firms, which are expected to execute the necessary upgrades efficiently and with accountability. The new funding model established by the federal government differs from previous arrangements, allowing state governments more flexibility in achieving specified safety outcomes. This shift aims to counter the past issues of budget overruns and delayed timelines due to overly rigid scoping requirements. Comparing Australia's road management to that of other countries, Vade remarked on the significant advancements made, particularly in driver behavior and road conditions. However, he noted concerning trends in post-COVID driving habits, with an increase in traffic violations affecting safety. To ensure the well-being of road users, Vade stressed the importance of ongoing investment and maintenance of Australia’s road infrastructure, emphasizing that similar funding commitments are necessary across other states like New South Wales and Victoria.So called speed cameras arent working, the revenue should be fixing the roads, new immigrants should have to do testing that Australians have to.
the population in QLD has increased 10 fold and the main national HWY has not even doubled
Im sure the needles didnt affect any like blacking out or strokes heart attacks nah its just the potholes.
But we need to import more people not fix the roads and house and feed the people that are here already....
Of the more than 1300 people killed, how many did not have English as a first language? etc.etc.etc...
Maybe reducing speed limits kills more people than it was supposed to save.
