Continuing support for life saving road safety research

The CASR crash investigation team
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Monday, 14 May 2012

The State Government has signed an agreement with the University of Adelaide's Centre for Automotive Safety Research (CASR) to extend funding for its world renowned road safety research for another five years.

Minister for Road Safety Jennifer Rankine said the funding - more than $1 million each year until 2017 - demonstrates the State Government's ongoing commitment to road safety in South Australia.

CASR's research has been the catalyst for successful road safety initiatives, including the implementation of the default 50 km/h urban speed limit.

"Following the introduction of the speed limit in 2006, CASR has estimated that this resulted in five less fatalities each year," Ms Rankine said.

"That is approximately 30 lives that have been saved as a result of this ground-breaking research," she said.

The University of Adelaide's Professor Mary Lydon, Director of CASR, said the State Government's ongoing support and confidence was vital in order to build on the expert knowledge and ongoing research that is being undertaken here.

"Knowing we have the State Government's support is a massive confidence boost. Five years of further funding demonstrates an investment by the Government in road safety and saving lives," Professor Lydon said.

"This funding allows us to develop road safety researchers of the future."

CASR has been invited to collaborate with international organisations from France, Japan, Malaysia and the United States.

"By providing this ongoing funding, CASR can continue its crash scene investigations, travel speed research, driving while impaired and vulnerable road user analysis," Ms Rankine said.

CASR is also the only research organisation in Australia that attends the scenes of road crashes, in order to collect crucial data.

The group has 20 staff members and seven postgraduate research students. CASR is also home to a new purpose-built Vehicle Safety Laboratory - the only facility of its kind in Australia.

The Laboratory is the official testing facility for pedestrian impact testing, a major part of the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) crash testing process.

Upcoming projects include monitoring young driver travel patterns, evaluating the effects of the Graduated Licensing Scheme and monitoring the implementation of the South Australian Road Safety Strategy 2020.

For more information about CASR visit www.casr.adelaide.edu.au

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