Press Release - Candor Trust

Orange on Safer Journeys Submissions

Candor Trust joins in wide dissatisfaction with the Government’s stale 2020 plan proposals, due to it’s dishonest emphasis on anticipated life savings from speed interventions and lower alcohol limits. Projected life savings figures, within the Safer Journeys document under consultation, are preposterously overrated. Either recall of the consultation document for further development, or intense and more protracted consultation than is timetabled is needed.

The 2010 Strategy was based on increasing the road-crime deterrence techniques that us gave some joy since the 1980s, but despite several cautionary reviews the National Road Safety Committee (NRSC), culpably failed to adjust to the fact a safety improvement trend evident from 1990 finished it’s run in 2001, two years before roll out of the 2010 strategy. NZ Road Police are not protecting life and serving the Public well.

The AA lately pointed out the failure of the 2010 Road Safety Strategy (2020 proposals being carbon copies) cost us more dead than the battle of El Alamein. A 29% rise in offence notices from 2003 to 2008 accompanied an increased injury rate per km traveled There’s been no correlation between the large decline in open-road speed and a decline in injuries. Injuries have skyrocketed – with spinal ones up 50% over the period.

It is in timely fashion then that the AA has proclaimed that from an injury-prevention perspective, simply increasing the number of speed-limit signs and attempting to control speed by ticketing is an absurd approach. Candor say impaired driving is also not holistically dealt with by the past or proposed road safety “plans” either.

The crux problem tipped by the AA, and supported by many others, is an overdependence on a limited range of Police activities, which Candor has discovered is mandated by binding NRSC agreements. When Police cannot actually prevent many crashes because many are not caused by illegal activity.

The NRSC was advised by Scientists involved in unfavourable 2005 reviews to just "try to believe" the road safety program works and apparently took the road of hope against hope, but it’s long niggled safety workers that 80% of crashes may involve driver inattention, oft founded on distraction or drowsiness that is typically caused by drug impairment. Speed is only the 4th odd crash cause per honest data. Policy needs to admit crash causes so they can be tended, so NZ Police and NZTA must eat humble pie.

Candor contends that future success requires rapid disestablishment of the NRSC and the manipulated issue clouding data collection and analysis structures it operates from, as per guidelines of the eternal strategy blueprint LTSA Safety Directions 1995 (the disaster black box).

The NRSC should indeed be replaced by a Multiparty Parliamentary Committee with community representation and this committee should be supported by a dedicated research and consultative group. It’s urgent work should be superpowered as per the AA’s suggestion by the investment of all fines revenue back in to road safety until 2020.

This kind of reshuffle would signify that the Parliament finally thinks that the lives of roadusing Kiwis, who should be desperate after 10 years of negligence, warrant preservation. That the one in fifty now sentenced to a metal torture death (Statistics NZ) are worth more than connivance to solve that accursed congestion, so that certain MPs can descend on Electorate Offices in time to greet upset road victims.

The Government, if wishing to be judged effectual and sincere, should listen and respond when an Organisation of the AA’s mana reflects a burgeoning groundswell view in issuing grave warnings. It has indicated to members after deep analysis that the continuation of an expired strategy encompassed in the outdated 2020 proposals, risks bringing N.Z. in to international disrepute. Further disrepute Candor allege, as spin only hides so much savagely spilt blood, and piled up outrage of State abandoned victims.

ENDS

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