International Links Links
| Arrive Alive ROAD SAFETY IN SOUTH AFRICA The Department of Transport has launched the Arrive Alive Road Safety Campaign as a short term initiative to reduce the carnage on South Africa's roads in 1997. The first campaign ran from 1 October 1997 to the end of January 1998. This campaign was applauded in November 1997 as one of the best initiatives to date and as being a significant step in initiating a positive change in the attitude of road users. It was reported that the number of accident and the fatality rates appeared to have decreased significantly since the launch of the campaign. During the second campaign - February 1998 – April 1998, driver fatigue was addressed as an important factor over the Easter holiday period when people travel long distances over a short time period. |
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| Australian Academy of Science - Fatigue Research Fatigue is thought to be one of the biggest killers on Australian roads, rivalling the effects of speed and alcohol. But the full extent of its role is not really known – unlike alcohol and drugs, fatigue can't be tested for in post-mortems. This is the reason for the big difference between the lowest and highest estimates of the role of fatigue in the Australian road toll. One study based on coronial and police reports found that fatigue played a part in only 5 per cent of fatal crashes in 1988. A more recent survey (for 1994) raised this figure to about 18 per cent. It included not only those crashes in which police identified fatigue as a cause, but also cases where the crash description suggested 'loss of concentration' had been a contributing factor. A third review found that around 30 per cent of rural crashes in Western Australia could be attributed to fatigue. And a fourth study, by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau, reckoned that fatigue was a factor in over 16 per cent of the total crashes on Australian roads in 1998. |
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| Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) - Fatigue Related Crashes This report examines a proposed operational definition of fatigue, and the occurrence and characteristics of fatigue-related road crashes within Australia as identified by the operational definition. Fatigue represents a significant social and economic cost to the community in relation to road crashes, especially fatal road crashes. Fatigue-related crashes are often more severe than other crashes as drivers’ reaction times are often delayed or drivers have not employed any crash avoidance manoeuvres. However, the identification of fatigue related crashes is hindered by the absence of a universally accepted definition of fatigue. Furthermore, it is difficult to quantify the level of driver fatigue due to the difficulties in objectively measuring the degree of fatigue following a crash. |
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| Swedish Board of Accident Investigation The Accident Investigation Board (SHK) was established in 1978. Initially, it investigated only accidents involving civil and military aircraft. In 1990 SHK’s responsibility increased to encompass all types of serious accidents, whether they occurred ashore, at sea or in the air. An incident may also be investigated if it implied a serious risk of an accident. Examples of areas, other than aviation, where an accident may be investigated include shipping, rail traffic, mining, road traffic, as well as activities involving chemicals, nuclear materials, or medical technology. Normally, the seriousness of the accident determines whether SHK will investigate. However, there are specific situations in which the law dictates that an investigation is always carried out. In other cases, a judgement is made. |
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| New South Wales (AUS) Roads and Traffic Authority The RTA is the Australian New South Wales State Government agency responsible for: Improving road safety. Testing and licensing drivers and registering and inspecting vehicles. Managing the road network to achieve consistent travel times. The RTA manages 17,623 km of State Roads including 3105 km of National Highways. This includes facilities such as traffic lights, roundabouts, signs and linemarking. It also manages nearly 3000 km of Regional Roads and Local Roads in the unincorporated area of NSW where there are no Local Councils. It provides financial assistance to local councils to manage 18,497 km of Regional Roads and, to a limited extent, Local Roads, through funding and other support. |
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