Plans that protect our youth and seniors

Protecting our young and old

Our goal at Tap and Increase the Gap is to create a safety initiative using

the Senior Step Card system that, like 40km school zones,

improve the safety of pedestrians who are at the greatest risk.

The 40km school zone is a case study that has been closely analysed by us, in our mission to further improve pedestrian safety for vulnerable groups of the community who face the highest risks on the road. Among children, aged adults are one of the most susceptible groups.

The success of the NSW 40km school zones is an indication to us at Tap and Increase the Gap that the Senior Step Card system will work to benefit a group of the community who face increased danger as pedestrians. We believe that with an aged focused safety system reductions in pedestrian casualties, fatalities and injuries will be seen.

The Road and Traffic Authority (RTA) , NSW Police and the Department of Education and Training worked together to introduce 40km school zones. Tap and Increase the Gap hopes to work with these organisations to implement the next stage of NSW road and pedestrian safety measures.

We have used the basis of the school zone initiative to formulate our findings that with specific aged target pedestrian safety measures, the number of casualties decreases over time. Tap and Increase the Gap is the next step in NSW pedestrian safety.

 

Do you think #TAPANDINCREASETHEGAP could have the same success? Why, why not?

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Pedestrian Safety Systems in NSW – 40km school zones

To formulate a successful safety initiative for senior pedestrians, Tap and Increase the Gap studied the effectiveness of pedestrian safety systems internationally and locally.

The graph below shows the decline in the number of fatalities of NSW school aged pedestrians over the space of 10 years since the introduction of 40km school zones.

Figure 1.

NSW Centre of Road, Safety and Traffic Authority 2010

The initiative shows the steady decline of casualties due to increased safety precautions and systems specifically targeted at reducing the likely hood of collisions with younger pedestrians. The NSW 40km school zone includes a reduced speed limit to 40km with all roads with direct access to schools.

• 1992  –   Reduced speed limits were introduced across NSW schools and the likely presence of younger pedestrians
• 2001  –   Minister for Roads announced 40km school zones
• 2003  –  10, 000 school zones were installed at 3,154 NSW schools.

Many schools in NSW are fitted with this signage

The 40km school zones apply on NSW school days. The signs indicate operating hours and speed limit. The initiative received an overwhelming support from motorists.

The system was introduced to reduce speed and minimise the risk and impact of collisions and lower casualties. The last NSW fatality at a school zone was in 2006.

Flashing light signs are now the preferred measure

Since the initial initiative 1, 350 schools in NSW have been fitted with flashing light signs. These, increase visibility and awareness to drivers. There are a further 1, 500 that are expected to be installed by the end of 2015.

For more information on 40km school zones in NSW visit : Roads and Traffic Authority (RTA) Report 2010

Are the 40km school zones effective? What would you improve about the system?

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