News

RACT's public policy department is pleased to publish, without prejudice, a paper by independent Tasmanian commentator on road surfaces, Ralph Rallings "Road Surfaces and Traffic Accident Rates: Breaking the Silence".

(Please note the opinions expressed in the attached paper and below do not necessarily reflect  those of the RACT or its representatives, and copyright for the work rests with Mr Rallings.)

Mr Rallings writes:

Over the last several years the question of road safety has been in the forefront of conversations within the Tasmanian community.  There have been many opinions expressed, but road surface condition has rarely achieved a mention.   The silence is surprising, when in a study involving wet road accident rates in the Tasmanian state road network between 2003 and 2006, the recorded variation in accident rates was shown to be closely tied to the measured surface friction.

The intent of the attached paper is to help break the silence about the role of road surface condition in road accident frequency.  Road surface condition largely determines the amount of friction available to a braking vehicle and, as shown in the attached paper, has a major influence on accident frequency.

A major concern is that unless the role of road surface condition is given due recognition, the funding necessary to maintain a safe level of road friction will not be provided.  Failure to provide these funds will simply result in the transfer of higher costs to the community in terms of the provision of additional health services, lost time etc and as well cause unnecessary injury and grief.

I contend that it is vital for government, its servants and the community at large to understand the linkages between road surface condition and accident frequency.  Without an understanding of these linkages, it will not be possible to develop a sensible road safety policy or to achieve the most cost effective allocation of state funds.