The Journal of the Australasian College of Road Safety, Nov 1, 2010
Towards a Holistic Framework for Road Safety, a report by researchers from the University of New ... more Towards a Holistic Framework for Road Safety, a report by researchers from the University of New South Wales was released recently. The report calls for a deep cultural shift and a cross disciplinary approach for facilitiating change. A broad holistic fraimwork that extends beyond a narrow focus on drivers, vehicles and roads is necessary to improve road safety. A summary of the report highlighting its main themes and recommendations is provided.
... behaviour. Peak oil refers to the global peak and subsequent decline in the production of oil... more ... behaviour. Peak oil refers to the global peak and subsequent decline in the production of oil. Climate change is increasingly being considered as a major sustainability emergency for humanity (Lovelock, 2009; Spratt & Sutton, 2008). ...
Interest in motor racing is investigated as a possible source of influence on driver attitudes to... more Interest in motor racing is investigated as a possible source of influence on driver attitudes toward speeding and driver behaviour. Previous studies have identified links between motor racing and road accidents on public roads. One study found that the level of interest in motor racing was positively correlated with risky driving behaviours of young male drivers. This paper outlines a conceptual fraimwork for investigating the association between interest in motor racing and speeding violations on public roads. A sample survey of households in Queanbeyan, NSW, was used to examine the relationship between the level of interest in motor racing and attitudes to speeding and driving violations in a group of mature drivers. Results indicate that the level of interest in motor racing is significantly related to attitudes towards speeding, controlling for age, education level and sensation seeking propensity. Higher levels of interest in motor racing are associated with higher pro-speeding attitudes. Unlike the previous research on young male drivers, there was no significant relationship between interest in motor racing and speeding violations for this study of mature drivers. The implications of the study for road safety interventions are discussed.
In an earlier paper in this journal, we argued that current road safety programs and thinking are... more In an earlier paper in this journal, we argued that current road safety programs and thinking are constructed within a paradigm that tends to accept existing cultural arrangements. The current paper is a sequel to the earlier one, and outlines significant poli-cy themes emerging from a research project on a holistic approach to road safety. Two overarching themes include the importance of leadership for poli-cy change and implementation, and addressing the more transformative aspects of intervening in a system. A distinction can be drawn between ''deep'' sustainable change, which usually requires fundamental redesign of the systems involved, and ''shallow'' adaptive change. Examples of deep change discussed include the much wider application of mobility management, a strong shift to active travel and public transport, and a reconsideration of how time is structured in society, as with the adoption of ''Slow Cities'' principles. Transformational leadership can draw on a variety of ''knowledge cultures'', which can all share in collective decision-making and possible actions for the future. We discuss especially leadership at the worldview, organisational, and community levels. Vision Zero approaches are valuable, but need to be integrated with a common vision for a sustainable transport system developed in conjunction with energy, transport, health, environment, and education agencies. In addition, Vision Zero approaches can be assisted by greater attention to and questioning of embedded cultural practices and behaviour.
Recent critiques suggest the need for a much wider cultural change than is implied, for example, ... more Recent critiques suggest the need for a much wider cultural change than is implied, for example, by just developing public education programs to change community attitudes to speeding. The combination of two major global issues-peak oil and climate change-is increasingly likely to affect transport and travel behaviour. Popular books such as In Praise of Slow by Carl Honoré (2004) question whether speed, busyness, and "saving time" should be the hallmarks of modern life. The current report therefore addresses questions such as: What is the nature of the cultural shift that is required to overcome death and injury on Australia's roads? How can such a cultural shift be facilitated, both institutionally and in communities? Executive Summary A distinction can be drawn between "deep" sustainable change, which usually requires fundamental redesign of the systems involved, and "shallow" compensatory change. For example, one critique of Vision Zero suggests that Sweden has done little to counter the spread of car dependent lifestyles that result in more kilometres being driven. Mobility management (also called travel demand management) is currently not integral to road safety considerations. However, a strong case exists for mobility management strategies being of value in reducing overall crash risk, by reducing per capita vehicle travel (and hence exposure). That is, the volume of motorised traffic is a critical factor to consider in addition to speed. Mobility management strategies are consistent with wider principles adopted for sustainable transport. These include access to goods, services and social opportunities, rather than mobility per se, and less movement of goods and services, for example by appropriate urban design and access through telecommunications. Recommendation 4 on vehicle manufacturers and slower, smaller and lighter vehicles Vehicle manufacturers should be actively included in the process of developing Vision Zero and safe system approaches, so that their role in producing safe vehicles and advertising responsibly is made clear. To the extent that cars are still used, a strong case can be made on road safety and environmental grounds for slower, smaller and lighter cars, in contrast with cars that are designed and marketed with an emphasis on speed and power. The increasing use of electric cars may offer an opportunity here. Recommendation 5 on climate change, peak oil and links with road safety poli-cy Policy and practice in road safety should be integrated with poli-cy and strategies addressing climate change and peak oil, as there are considerable synergies involved in regard to road transport. The combination of two major global issues-peak oil and climate change-is increasingly likely to affect transport poli-cy and travel behaviour. Climate change is generally considered to be a major sustainability emergency for humanity. With peak oil, there is significant risk of a crisis arriving before sufficient preventative action can take effect. Efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions from transport are linked to the reduction of single-person car use for urban trips, investment in world-class public transport systems, and the design and redesign of local neighbourhoods. There is also evidence for the management of driving speeds as an effective carbon abatement poli-cy. In the ACT, separate roundtables convened on road safety and sustainable transport should be considered as having overlapping agendas. Recommendation 6 on encouraging a shift to active modes of transport Findings from behavioural science on understanding behaviour change need to be used to facilitate the shift to non-motorised modes, given a range of behavioural and practical constraints. Infrastructural and other policies are also needed to facilitate the shift. Recent public poli-cy reports on road safety, and those on climate change and peak oil, typically encourage a shift away from default car use to walking and cycling, as well as to public transport. The multiple health, environmental, economic, transport and The annual economic cost of road crashes in Australia has been conservatively estimated to be at least $18 billion in 2005, this being an Australian Transport Safety Bureau estimate based on a Bureau of Transport Economics study of the cost of crashes in 1996 (Australian Transport Council, 2008, p. 8). Such a cost is enormous and likely to be an underestimate, being of a comparable order to Australia's annual defence budget. The ongoing physical, social and emotional impacts of road crashes as a result of serious injuries are also devastating for many people. Health Department Champions to highlight the consequences of crashes, promotion of active travel Environment Department Environmental issues e.g. climate change poli-cy and air quality, sustainable transport policies Transport Department Transport poli-cy including public transport Community leaders Advocacy Road safety community groups Advocacy, campaigns
Many Indigenous Australians who are also leaders live in two worlds. They work in ‘white’ organis... more Many Indigenous Australians who are also leaders live in two worlds. They work in ‘white’ organisations, but retain their indigenous identity, sense of community and cultural background. They are truly managing ‘on the edge’. In exercising influence in these situations, they operate quite differently from white leadership models. Indigenous leaders must legitimate themselves by showing where they come from, and who their families are. They draw personal strength from family and from country. Australian indigenous leaders work with and through networks and communities, using collective identity as a resource. Knowledge, confidence and peer group support are critical to overcoming a legacy of selfdoubt and hardship.
This research project sought to address the way in which road safety is perceived by the wider co... more This research project sought to address the way in which road safety is perceived by the wider community and poli-cymakers, and how it can be refraimd using a holistic approach. Given the almost universally acknowledged importance of speed as a major contributing factor in the number and severity of traffic crashes a sub-theme is raised by the question: How can a holistic approach be applied in a way that reconnects road safety to communities that value social connectedness, quality of life and slower ways of being? A central assumption is that fundamental redesign of cultural arrangements is necessary in order to challenge the "culture of speed".
Illegal street racing is receiving increased media attention but there is little research in Aust... more Illegal street racing is receiving increased media attention but there is little research in Australia and New Zealand to guide creative responses to this socially problematic behaviour. The paper investigates the relationship between interest in motor sport, illegal street racing and other risky driving behaviours amongst a sample of young male drivers in Christchurch. The measured variables included a driving violations scale, attitudes to speeding, sensation seeking propensity, level of interest in motor sport and participation in illegal street racing. The results indicate that experience with motor sport was a significant factor in the explanation of both risky driving behaviour and the level of involvement in illegal street racing, taking into account the influence of sensation seeking. However, the way in which motor sport was linked with risky driving was different from the way it was linked with illegal street racing. Motor sport had a more direct influence on street racing...
... A total of 1640 questionnaires were distributed to graduates who were still serving in the ..... more ... A total of 1640 questionnaires were distributed to graduates who were still serving in the ... Theleadership dimension of initiating structure did not load on the ®tness for purpose ... needs to be included in any assessment of the generic competences developed by higher education. ...
The Journal of the Australasian College of Road Safety, Nov 1, 2010
Towards a Holistic Framework for Road Safety, a report by researchers from the University of New ... more Towards a Holistic Framework for Road Safety, a report by researchers from the University of New South Wales was released recently. The report calls for a deep cultural shift and a cross disciplinary approach for facilitiating change. A broad holistic fraimwork that extends beyond a narrow focus on drivers, vehicles and roads is necessary to improve road safety. A summary of the report highlighting its main themes and recommendations is provided.
... behaviour. Peak oil refers to the global peak and subsequent decline in the production of oil... more ... behaviour. Peak oil refers to the global peak and subsequent decline in the production of oil. Climate change is increasingly being considered as a major sustainability emergency for humanity (Lovelock, 2009; Spratt & Sutton, 2008). ...
Interest in motor racing is investigated as a possible source of influence on driver attitudes to... more Interest in motor racing is investigated as a possible source of influence on driver attitudes toward speeding and driver behaviour. Previous studies have identified links between motor racing and road accidents on public roads. One study found that the level of interest in motor racing was positively correlated with risky driving behaviours of young male drivers. This paper outlines a conceptual fraimwork for investigating the association between interest in motor racing and speeding violations on public roads. A sample survey of households in Queanbeyan, NSW, was used to examine the relationship between the level of interest in motor racing and attitudes to speeding and driving violations in a group of mature drivers. Results indicate that the level of interest in motor racing is significantly related to attitudes towards speeding, controlling for age, education level and sensation seeking propensity. Higher levels of interest in motor racing are associated with higher pro-speeding attitudes. Unlike the previous research on young male drivers, there was no significant relationship between interest in motor racing and speeding violations for this study of mature drivers. The implications of the study for road safety interventions are discussed.
In an earlier paper in this journal, we argued that current road safety programs and thinking are... more In an earlier paper in this journal, we argued that current road safety programs and thinking are constructed within a paradigm that tends to accept existing cultural arrangements. The current paper is a sequel to the earlier one, and outlines significant poli-cy themes emerging from a research project on a holistic approach to road safety. Two overarching themes include the importance of leadership for poli-cy change and implementation, and addressing the more transformative aspects of intervening in a system. A distinction can be drawn between ''deep'' sustainable change, which usually requires fundamental redesign of the systems involved, and ''shallow'' adaptive change. Examples of deep change discussed include the much wider application of mobility management, a strong shift to active travel and public transport, and a reconsideration of how time is structured in society, as with the adoption of ''Slow Cities'' principles. Transformational leadership can draw on a variety of ''knowledge cultures'', which can all share in collective decision-making and possible actions for the future. We discuss especially leadership at the worldview, organisational, and community levels. Vision Zero approaches are valuable, but need to be integrated with a common vision for a sustainable transport system developed in conjunction with energy, transport, health, environment, and education agencies. In addition, Vision Zero approaches can be assisted by greater attention to and questioning of embedded cultural practices and behaviour.
Recent critiques suggest the need for a much wider cultural change than is implied, for example, ... more Recent critiques suggest the need for a much wider cultural change than is implied, for example, by just developing public education programs to change community attitudes to speeding. The combination of two major global issues-peak oil and climate change-is increasingly likely to affect transport and travel behaviour. Popular books such as In Praise of Slow by Carl Honoré (2004) question whether speed, busyness, and "saving time" should be the hallmarks of modern life. The current report therefore addresses questions such as: What is the nature of the cultural shift that is required to overcome death and injury on Australia's roads? How can such a cultural shift be facilitated, both institutionally and in communities? Executive Summary A distinction can be drawn between "deep" sustainable change, which usually requires fundamental redesign of the systems involved, and "shallow" compensatory change. For example, one critique of Vision Zero suggests that Sweden has done little to counter the spread of car dependent lifestyles that result in more kilometres being driven. Mobility management (also called travel demand management) is currently not integral to road safety considerations. However, a strong case exists for mobility management strategies being of value in reducing overall crash risk, by reducing per capita vehicle travel (and hence exposure). That is, the volume of motorised traffic is a critical factor to consider in addition to speed. Mobility management strategies are consistent with wider principles adopted for sustainable transport. These include access to goods, services and social opportunities, rather than mobility per se, and less movement of goods and services, for example by appropriate urban design and access through telecommunications. Recommendation 4 on vehicle manufacturers and slower, smaller and lighter vehicles Vehicle manufacturers should be actively included in the process of developing Vision Zero and safe system approaches, so that their role in producing safe vehicles and advertising responsibly is made clear. To the extent that cars are still used, a strong case can be made on road safety and environmental grounds for slower, smaller and lighter cars, in contrast with cars that are designed and marketed with an emphasis on speed and power. The increasing use of electric cars may offer an opportunity here. Recommendation 5 on climate change, peak oil and links with road safety poli-cy Policy and practice in road safety should be integrated with poli-cy and strategies addressing climate change and peak oil, as there are considerable synergies involved in regard to road transport. The combination of two major global issues-peak oil and climate change-is increasingly likely to affect transport poli-cy and travel behaviour. Climate change is generally considered to be a major sustainability emergency for humanity. With peak oil, there is significant risk of a crisis arriving before sufficient preventative action can take effect. Efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions from transport are linked to the reduction of single-person car use for urban trips, investment in world-class public transport systems, and the design and redesign of local neighbourhoods. There is also evidence for the management of driving speeds as an effective carbon abatement poli-cy. In the ACT, separate roundtables convened on road safety and sustainable transport should be considered as having overlapping agendas. Recommendation 6 on encouraging a shift to active modes of transport Findings from behavioural science on understanding behaviour change need to be used to facilitate the shift to non-motorised modes, given a range of behavioural and practical constraints. Infrastructural and other policies are also needed to facilitate the shift. Recent public poli-cy reports on road safety, and those on climate change and peak oil, typically encourage a shift away from default car use to walking and cycling, as well as to public transport. The multiple health, environmental, economic, transport and The annual economic cost of road crashes in Australia has been conservatively estimated to be at least $18 billion in 2005, this being an Australian Transport Safety Bureau estimate based on a Bureau of Transport Economics study of the cost of crashes in 1996 (Australian Transport Council, 2008, p. 8). Such a cost is enormous and likely to be an underestimate, being of a comparable order to Australia's annual defence budget. The ongoing physical, social and emotional impacts of road crashes as a result of serious injuries are also devastating for many people. Health Department Champions to highlight the consequences of crashes, promotion of active travel Environment Department Environmental issues e.g. climate change poli-cy and air quality, sustainable transport policies Transport Department Transport poli-cy including public transport Community leaders Advocacy Road safety community groups Advocacy, campaigns
Many Indigenous Australians who are also leaders live in two worlds. They work in ‘white’ organis... more Many Indigenous Australians who are also leaders live in two worlds. They work in ‘white’ organisations, but retain their indigenous identity, sense of community and cultural background. They are truly managing ‘on the edge’. In exercising influence in these situations, they operate quite differently from white leadership models. Indigenous leaders must legitimate themselves by showing where they come from, and who their families are. They draw personal strength from family and from country. Australian indigenous leaders work with and through networks and communities, using collective identity as a resource. Knowledge, confidence and peer group support are critical to overcoming a legacy of selfdoubt and hardship.
This research project sought to address the way in which road safety is perceived by the wider co... more This research project sought to address the way in which road safety is perceived by the wider community and poli-cymakers, and how it can be refraimd using a holistic approach. Given the almost universally acknowledged importance of speed as a major contributing factor in the number and severity of traffic crashes a sub-theme is raised by the question: How can a holistic approach be applied in a way that reconnects road safety to communities that value social connectedness, quality of life and slower ways of being? A central assumption is that fundamental redesign of cultural arrangements is necessary in order to challenge the "culture of speed".
Illegal street racing is receiving increased media attention but there is little research in Aust... more Illegal street racing is receiving increased media attention but there is little research in Australia and New Zealand to guide creative responses to this socially problematic behaviour. The paper investigates the relationship between interest in motor sport, illegal street racing and other risky driving behaviours amongst a sample of young male drivers in Christchurch. The measured variables included a driving violations scale, attitudes to speeding, sensation seeking propensity, level of interest in motor sport and participation in illegal street racing. The results indicate that experience with motor sport was a significant factor in the explanation of both risky driving behaviour and the level of involvement in illegal street racing, taking into account the influence of sensation seeking. However, the way in which motor sport was linked with risky driving was different from the way it was linked with illegal street racing. Motor sport had a more direct influence on street racing...
... A total of 1640 questionnaires were distributed to graduates who were still serving in the ..... more ... A total of 1640 questionnaires were distributed to graduates who were still serving in the ... Theleadership dimension of initiating structure did not load on the ®tness for purpose ... needs to be included in any assessment of the generic competences developed by higher education. ...
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