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Staysafe (Joint Standing Committee on Road Safety)

The Staysafe (Joint Standing Committee on Road Safety) is a current joint standing committee, established 21 June 2007.

The Staysafe Committee was established in 1982 to investigate and report on road safety matters in New South Wales, and has been reappointed at the commencement of each Parliament since that time. Its terms of reference include the review of countermeasures to reduce the incidence and severity of road crashes, and the monitoring of actions taken to address the social and economic consequences of road trauma.

The Staysafe Committee consists of 10 Members of Parliament (7 Members of the Legislative Assembly - 4 government and 3 non-government; and 3 Members of the Legislative Council - 1 government and 2 non-government).

The Staysafe Committee is able to determine its own inquiries within the broad framework of its overall terms of reference, but also acts on requests from Ministers and Parliament.

The Staysafe Committee has tabled 83 reports. As a result of these reports of the Committee, successive governments have taken a number of initiatives to improve road safety, including the introduction of random breath testing, changes to driver licensing practices (including the new graduated driver licensing system for young drivers), improvements in heavy vehicle safety, the development of more effective and efficient traffic enforcement, the revision of criminal law relating to road use, safer and more effective traffic control around schools, and the introduction of 50 km/h speed limits in urban areas.

Road safety efforts in New South Wales are co-ordinated through the Roads and Traffic Authority. Other government agencies involved in road safety efforts include New South Wales Police, the Motor Accidents Authority, NSW Health, the Ministry of Transport, the Department of Education and Training, and the Attorney General's Department. Significant non-governmental organisations involved in road safety activities in New South Wales include NRMA Motoring & Services, the Australasian College of Road Safety, the Institute of Public Works Engineering Australia, the Australian Institute of Traffic Planning and Management, and Bicycle NSW. There are a number of research bodies involved in road safety in New South Wales, including the Injury Risk Management Research Centre (UNSW), the Institute for Trauma and Injury Management, and the George Institute for International Health (U.Syd).

A briefing note summarising the activities of the Staysafe Committee is available from the Secretariat. The briefing note has been produced for use by students and to better inform the general public.

Inquiries

During the current parliament, the following inquiries have been undertaken by the committee:

ReferredInquiry Name
06/05/2009 Ministerial Reference - Inquiry into Pedestrian Safety (Commenced)
26/11/2008 Heavy Vehicle Safety (Commenced)
26/11/2008 Updating Progress on Railway Level Crossing Safety (Completed)
21/08/2007 Young Driver Safety and Education Programs (Completed)

Records of 12 earlier inquiries conducted by the committee are also available online.

Submissions Invited

The committee is not actively receiving submissions at present. Past submissions may be available under the relevant inquiry.

Reports and Government Responses

During the current parliament, the committee has or plans to table the following reports:
Report DateName of Report
17/06/2009Report on Updating Progress on Railway Level Crossing Safety
12/11/2008Report on Young Driver Safety & Education Programs
(there are also 27 reports from past Parliaments).

Members

Contact

Role Name Phone Fax Email
Main Contact Bjarne Nordin (02) 9230 2843 (02) 9230 3052 staysafe@parliament.nsw.gov.au
Committee Manager Russell Keith (02) 9230 3050 staysafe@parliament.nsw.gov.au
Senior Committee Officer Bjarne Nordin (02) 9230 2843 staysafe@parliament.nsw.gov.au
Research Officer Eve Gallagher (02) 9230 2521 staysafe@parliament.nsw.gov.au
Committee Officer Alexis Steffen (02) 9230 2632 staysafe@parliament.nsw.gov.au
Assistant Committee Officer Mohini Mehta (02) 9230 2631 staysafe@parliament.nsw.gov.au

Postal Address

Staysafe Committee, Parliament House, Macquarie Street, SYDNEY NSW 2000

Terms of Reference Establishing Committee

Resolution passed 21 June 2007, 54th Parliament, Votes and Proceedings No.14, Item 13, Page 7