Innovative road safety projects sought

APPLICATIONS for the first round of the federal government’s $12 million Road Safety Innovation Fund will be open until next week.
Victorian Senator Sarah Henderson urged any organisations in regional Victoria with an interest in road safety research and development to apply for funding to help make a difference to the lives of all Australians.
“Improving road safety is something our entire community can contribute to and I encourage all organisations in the region with an interest in road safety innovation and technologies to apply for funding,” she said.
“Road crashes have an enormous emotional and economic impact on all affected communities, but particularly the families and friends of the victims.
“Innovation and technology are key tools that can help reduce the number of road crashes by ensuring road safety becomes ‘business as usual’ for all road users here in regional Victoria.”
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Michael McCormack said the program would provide grants for road safety research and technology development to improve safety outcomes for road users across the nation.
“The Australian Government takes road safety seriously, because one death or one crash on our roads is one too many.
“The fund will target innovative projects addressing priority areas including improving road safety in regional and remote areas, reducing driver distraction and drug driving and supporting better safety outcomes for vulnerable road users.
“I look forward to announcing successful projects to be funded under Round 1 of the Road Safety Innovation Fund in the coming months and seeing critical safety-improving projects get under way soon after.”
Assistant Minister for Road Safety and Freight Transport Scott Buchholz said the first round of the fund had $2 million available to fund projects across the country to run over the next four years.
“Potential projects can include innovation in road safety management initiatives, new technologies and delivery techniques or research that better informs policy development and outcomes.
“This fund is just one of the many ways the Australian Government is investing in road safety to move towards zero fatalities and serious injuries on our roads.
“Other initiatives include the recent $4 million Road Safety Awareness and Enablers Fund, which is helping deliver targeted educational campaigns to reduce risky behaviour and increase road safety awareness, install life-saving speed signage and collaborate with the community on decreasing road trauma.”
The first round of applications close on Monday, May 18 and will be assessed through an open competitive process.
For more information, including application guidelines and submissions, head to grants.gov.auInnovative road safety projects sought.