Workshop for Setting Regional and National Road Traffic Causality Reduction Targets in the ESCWA Region 16-17June, 2009 Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates Setting Targets The New Zealand Experience

Welcome to New Zealand New Zealand facts: Population: 3.8 million Sheep: 60 million Capital City: Wellington Official Languages: English and Maori Famous: Lord of the Rings, nature, rugby

Presentation 1. Outline New Zealand's experience in setting targets. 2. Highlight move from targets to vision 3. Showcase a school based education initiative involving police and teachers (Collaboration).

New Zealand Road Conditions

1973 there were 843 deaths 1987 there were 795 deaths Target Downward Trend in Fatalities Reducing road casualties to no more than 300 deaths by lowest toll since deaths Source: New Zealand Ministry of Transport

Fatality rates and initiatives Source: New Zealand Ministry of Transport

2020 Vision: numerical targets for death and serious injury can create a perception that the government is comfortable with a given level of serious road trauma a safe road system that is increasingly free of road deaths and serious injuries Source: New Zealand Ministry of Transport

safer roads and roadsides safer speeds safer vehicles and safer road use. (Education a component of all) Approach – The Safe System The aim with a Safe System, if crashes do happen, the chances of death or serious injuries are minimised. Key message that everybody is responsible for improving road safety. A Safe System aims to prevent death and serious injury by progressively achieving:

Education offers large long-term benefits and fosters a safety culture Hard to forecast, monitor and prove effectiveness Education must be seen as a component of all initiatives – not measured in isolation. Importance of Education Strategy * Source: Quoted in Di Pietro, G & Hughes, I. Determining the optimal time for, and type of, road safety education in ACT schools. Australia 2005.

Road safety education Road safety education should start early to build good habits current evidence shows that road safety education is most effective when it is part of a lifelong learning scheme.* The five P’s * Source OECD. Keeping children safe in traffic. Paris, France, begin at Pre-school4. be Presented frequently 2. be Practical5. have a Place in the school timetable. 3. follow Principles for child development

Case Study RoadSense Funded by New Zealand Transport Agency but in collaboration. Bus safety, car passengers, pedestrians and cycling at elementary level Police Education Officers and teachers working together

Specific initiatives

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