Infrastructure News

$33B funding to improve road safety across Australia

Eliza Sayon Apr 21, 2022

2 min read

Over $33 billion has been committed by the Coalition in the next four years to improve road safety and help Australians get home quicker and safer.

“We must do everything we can to reduce deaths on our roads and spare families from the immeasurable impact these tragedies have,” Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Barnaby Joyce said.

“Improving road safety is among our highest priorities. Better roads keep cars and trucks safe, delivering commuters to their destination, and products and commodities to supermarkets and ports.”

The investment is said to include $65.3 million for a new Heavy Vehicle Rest Areas Program, which will provide more vehicle rest areas on regional and rural roads and improve existing heavy vehicle rest areas.

Aside from this, funding has also been extended to three important road safety programs: $12 million for the Road Safety Innovation Fund, $10 million for Driver Reviver Site Upgrades and $4 million for Road Safety Awareness and Enablers Fund.

Building on its record, the new funding is part of the Coalition’s record $120 billion, 10-year infrastructure investment program which will deliver new and existing infrastructure projects to improve safety outcomes.

The Deputy Prime Minister said the Australian Government was increasing its focus on making the country’s roads safer.

“Roads are the critical arteries of our nation, not only supporting the movement of people but facilitating the flow of goods and commodities from regional businesses to supermarkets and ports,” he said.

“We must not only make roads safer but more efficient. More reliable roads and freight routes will drive the growth of regional industries and ensure our valuable commodities can be sold to the world.”

So far, the $3 billion Road Safety Program has delivered safety improvement works to more than 19,000km of the national road network and supported around 12,000 jobs.

Assistant Minister for Road Safety and Freight Transport Scott Buchholz said the program will benefit heavy vehicle drivers and the broader community by helping tackle fatigue and reducing the risk of crashes and high-risk behaviour.

The new Heavy Vehicle Rest Area program will be building on existing programs of investment to ensure the viability, safety, sustainability and efficiency of Australia’s road transport sector.

“This new funding injection will assist State, Territory and local governments as well as industry to place a greater emphasis on heavy vehicle safety and fatigue management for heavy vehicle operators through investment in heavy vehicle rest stops,” Assistant Minister Buchholz said.

“Infrastructure investment is central to the Coalition’s economic plan and these investments are only possible because of our strong record of economic management.”

Source: The Nationals Media Release. Content has been edited for style and clarity.

Eliza Sayon

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Eliza is a content producer and editor at Public Spectrum. She is an experienced writer on topics related to the government and to the public, as well as stories that uplift and improve the community.