The NRMA-ACT Road Safety Trust was formally established in 1992, with the principal objective of enhancing road safety for the benefit of the ACT road-using community.

The Trust has allocated some $18.6 million to over 300 innovative road safety projects since 1992.

What's new

Financial Boost For Road Safety In The Act

Road safety in the ACT will receive a funding boost of $320,000 from the NRMA - ACT Road Safety Trust's 2008/2009 Grant Programm, Trust Chairman Professor Don Aitkin AO has announced. See the Media Statement for more details.

Study Confirms First Aid Training Saves Lives on Roads

A study to be released on 10 April 2008 into the prevalence of first aid training among ACT motorists has confirmed that the application of basic first aid treatment at the scene of a road crash has assisted in saving lives. The study was funded by a grant of $71,000 to Flinders University and undertaken by Professor Paul Arbon AM.

According to the report, it has been estimated that some 7% of Australia's road fatalities could be saved as a result of basic first aid measures taken at the scene of a crash. See the Media Statement for more details.

Kings Highway - Speeding and Dangerous Driving Targeted

Speeding and dangerous driving will be the iey driving behaviours targetted over the forthcoming Easter and school holiday period. Operation Coast roads will involve the deployment of variable message signs at selected locations along the Highway - supported by a high visibile police presence. The campaign is being funded by the NRMA - ACT Road Safety Trust and the NSW Roads and Trafic Authority. See the Media Statement for more details.

Boost for Road Safety in the ACT

Road safety in the ACT will receive a boost in the next financial year from projects to be funded by grants from the NRMA - ACT Road Safety Trust's 2008/2009 Grant Program. The Trust is inviting submissions from the community for project funding from the Trust, which will be allocating up to two hundred thousand dollars in grants under the forthcoming program. Applications close on 15 Februry 2008 and the application can be downloaded from the Trust website. See the Media Statement for more details.

Campaign Targets Speed on the Kings Highway

A road safety campaign that will target speed and dangerous driving on the Kings Highway over the forthcoming holiday period was launched in Civic Centre on 28 November 2007. Known as Operation Coast Roads, the campaign involves the deployment of five variable message signs at selected locations along the Highway - supported by a highly visible police presence. The $17,000 campaign is being jointly funded by the NRMA - ACT Road Safety Trust and the NSW Roads and Traffic Authority. See the Media Statement for more details.

Innovative Road Safety Research Unveiled in Canberra

The National Museum of Australia was the venue for a Road Safety Postgraduate Scholarship Event on Tuesday 25 September organised by the Trust. The Showcase Event featured six of Australia's next generation of road safety researchers, who delivered presentations on cutting edge research. It is expected to have the presentations available on the Trust's website in the near future. See the Media Statement for more details.

Financial Boost for Road Safety in the ACT

Road safety in the ACT will receive a funding boost of $324,000 from the NRMA - ACT Road Safety Trust's 2007/2008 Grant Program, Chairman of the Trust Profesor Don Aitkin AO has announced.

The grants cover a range of initiatives including funding to the University of Canberra of $113,720 for drug driving research and a grant of $36,000 to Kidsafe ACT for the extension of its road safety awareness program into primary schools. See the Media Statement for more details.

Study confirms road safety concerns for interstate driving

A recent report commissioned by the Trust comparing the amount of travel by ACT drivers in NSW with their travel in the ACT has found they have over three times the risk of being involved in a fatal crash in NSW than in the ACT. See the Media Statement for more details.

School bike safety program review produces mixed results

A recent review of the two bicycle education programs for primary school children operating in the ACT has endorsed the Bike Ed program delivered by Pedal Power, but has recommended the cessation of Traffic Centre Road Safety Package delivered by the AFP.

The main concern with the AFP program was the use of the Belconnen Traffic Centre. Research indicates off-road centres such as this, do not adequately simulate real traffic environment and can inadvertentaly encourage students to become over-confident about their ability to cope safely in traffic." See the Media Statement for more details.

Canberra Raiders' home games the venue for drink drive campaign

'The Canberra Raiders' home games at Canberra Stadium are featuring a drink drive slogan "Stay out of the sin bin - don't drink and drive" on rotational signave the full length of the eastern side of the field. Jointly funded by the NRMA - ACT Road Safety Trust and the ACT Government at a cost of $19,250 the campaing will continue for the remainder of the season.

This is the third year of the campaign and the length of signage this year has doubled that of previous years. The slogan occupies 99 metres of the rotational signage and rotates some twenty times during the main game. Additional exposure occurs with home games being shown on pay TV. Any free-to-air televised games add significantly to the reach. See the Media Statement for more details.

Television campaign urges motorists to demand vehicle safety

A campaign urging car buyers to demand safety techologies when buying a new car was launched on 6 May 2007 on Canberra's three commercial radio stations. The campaign focuses on two life-saving technologies - Electronic Stability Control (ESC) and side curtain airbags. Research indicates that ESC can reduce single car crashes by as much as 40%.

The campaign is being funded by the Trust at a cost of $37,000 and uses commercials developed by Victoria's Transport Accident Commission. See the Media Statement for more details.

Driver fatigue: Dr Karl to deliver a wake-up call

An awareness campaign on the dangers of driving while fatigued will be launched by well known science broadcaster Dr Karl Kruszelnicki at the National Museum of Australia on Wednesday 28 March 2007 at 10am. The campaign is a joint initiative between the Trust and Yass Valley and Upper Lachlan Councils - with other partners being the NSW Roads and Traffic Authority and NRMA Motoring & Services. See the Media Statement for more details.

Educational Program for Drink Driving Offenders Effective

An evaluation of the Sober Driver Program which is designed to assist drink drivers not to re-offend has confirmed participants who complete the program are less likely to drink and drive. A grant of $35,400 by the Trust allowed the Alcohol and Drug Foundation ACT to commission the evaluation. The Chief Magistrate, Mr Ron Cahill launched the evaluation report on 12 December 2006 at the Magistrates' Court in Canberra City. See the Media Statement for more details.

Study identifies future road safety needs for ageing Australians

A study by the Council on the Ageing (ACT), which identifies a wide range of road safety needs for Canberra's ageing population, was launched at the Chief Minister's Breakfast on 12 March 2007. The $50,000 study was funded by the Trust and makes thirty seven recommendations aimed at increasing the level of community awareness of emerging road safety needs. See the Media Statement for further details. The report is available under the Reports section. NB: It is a large report running to some 240 pages.

Older Drivers Knowledgeable About Health Impacts on Driving

A study commissioned by the NRMA - ACT Road Safety Trust has found some seventy percent of older drivers had accurate knowledge about the main health conditions that could impact on driving. The research was undertaken by the ANU's Ageing Research Unit, which surveyed 323 drivers aged 65 years and older from Canberra and the surrounding rural region.

The study also re-affirmed the importance of the general practitioner to older drivers as a source of information on health issues related to driving. "Older drivers need to ensure they are fully informed on health issues," Professor Don Aitkin AO, Chairman of the Trust said. "In this regard, the older driver's health practitioner has an important role." See the Media Statement for more details.

Road Safety Partnership Benefits Brain Injured People

The Chairman of the NRMA - ACT Road Safety Trust Professor Don Aitkin AO presented the National Brain Injury Foundation with a new plasma widescreen television for the benefit of the residents in the Dorothy Sales cottages in Hughes. The Trust, WIN Television and The Good Guys combined to donate the television, which will enhance the quality of life of people rehabilitating from Acquired Brain Injury. See the Media Statement for more details.