4.3.2010

New Zealand surgeons back new road safety strategy

The New Zealand National Board of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS) has congratulated the government on its new Safer Journeys – Road Safety Strategy.

Chair of the New Zealand Trauma Committee James Hamill describes the new strategy as “a fantastic step forward” and says he’s pleased to see many of his committee’s recommendations have been included in it.

“Many of the recommendations, like booster seat enforcement and comprehensive measures to reduce drink driving, have been known for years to reduce road trauma. Taken together, putting in place the recommendations in this document will save lives on the road.”

“Our road safety policies lag behind the rest of the developed world – particularly Australia, the U.K. and Scandinavia. What we need is a systematic approach to trauma. We need to integrate policy, prevention and research with front-line ambulance and hospital professionals.

“The Trauma Committee would like to see a Trauma System where research-based policy recommendations can be implemented when and where needed – rather than having to wait for another 10 years for changes that will safe lives,” he said.

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