Are you a local government official concerned about road safety in your community? Network Safety Plans (NSPs) are the key to reducing road fatalities and serious injuries on your roads. The National Transport Research Organisation (NTRO) is here to help you develop and implement an effective NSP for your council.
What are Network Safety Plans?
Network Safety Plans are comprehensive strategies that help local governments understand and address road safety risks across their entire road network. These plans are crucial for:
- Identifying high-risk areas on local roads
- Prioritising infrastructure investments
- Maximising safety benefits within budget constraints
- Aligning with national and state/territory road safety goals
Why are NSPs Important for Councils?
Fifty-two percent of all casualty crashes and 40% of fatalities take place on local roads managed by local councils (local roads make up 75% of Australia's national road network). Therefore, to achieve Vision Zero by 2050, every local council must adopt proactive road safety strategies.
The National Road Safety Strategy (NRSS) identifies infrastructure planning and investment, regional road safety and remote road safety as key priorities for halving the nation’s road fatalities and reducing serious injuries by 30% by 2030. The NRSS seeks to have local governments across Australia develop and adopt an NSP by 2030.
Achieving the targets set at National and State levels will require a sustained investment in road infrastructure. But Councils have limited budgets and resources, so actions need to be prioritised to address the highest risk factors that lead to crashes and the most serious casualty outcomes. This is what an NSP does.
How NTRO Can Help?
NTRO is at the forefront of developing Network Safety Plans for local governments. Our expertise includes:
- Data-Driven Analysis: We use evidence-based models like AusRAP and ANRAM to assess your road network's safety performance.
- Tailored Solutions: Our team works closely with you to create a customized NSP that fits your council's specific needs.
- Prioritised Investments: We help you identify and prioritise the most effective road safety interventions.
- Funding Support: Our NSPs can strengthen your applications for state and federal funding programs and ensure Councils’ available funding is invested in the right treatment at the right location.
To support Councils in understanding NSP’s, NTRO has released A Guide to Network Safety Plans for Local Government.
What is the NTRO NSP Model?
An NSP is a proactive approach to road safety, highlighting areas of highest risk, developing a program of infrastructure improvements to address identified issues, and prioritising the program to meet the available budgets.
As NSPs are largely untested in Australia, NTRO developed the following four-step model:
The NTRO advantage
- Proven expertise: With over 60 years of experience, NTRO is a leader in road safety research and implementation.
- National presence: With offices across Australia and New Zealand.
- Ongoing support: We can provide training and continued assistance to ensure the effective implementation of your NSP.
Contact NTRO
Take proactive steps to improve road safety in your community. Contact NTRO today to start developing your Network Safety Plan and contribute to safer Australian roads.
