The award, sponsored by the Institute of Public Works Engineering Australia Limited (IPWEA), is the public recognition of the outstanding achievements of Council in the behavioural/educative and planning aspects of road safety. The awards were established in 1995, as part of the IPWEA/RTA Road Safety Strategy.
The Barton Highway Speed project was conducted through a partnership consisting of the Yass Valley Council, NRMA – ACT Road Safety Trust, the Roads and Traffic Authority of NSW, and the NSW Police and the Australian Federal Police with joint funding and sponsorship totalling $37,700. The project aimed at addressing speed and the number of motor vehicle crashes.
The campaign utilised the proven techniques of combining strategically planned education and enforcement programs that allowed for ongoing planning, co-operation and communication between a diverse range of cross border stakeholders and provided outstanding results.
Upon completion of the project an analysis of the crash data for the Barton Highway revealed an overall crash reduction of 27 percent with no Fatal Crashes at all being recorded during the project period.
The education and police enforcement program was specifically targeted to times and locations identified from Council's research. The combined strategic approach has seen a noticeable increase in road safety on the Barton Highway and it is likely that the model used by Yass Valley will be implemented for improving road safety in other areas across the State.
Unfortunately this will be the last award for Council achieved under the guidance of Council's Road Safety Officer, Mark Foran. Mr Foran departs Council to further his career in the field of traffic facilities management. The General Manager, David Rowe said “Mark will be missed in his role at Council, a position he filled with great dedication in his 6 years and he personally was instrumental in the implementation of many beneficial road safety projects throughout Yass Valley and Upper Lachlan Local Government Areas”.
