The Coalition has committed $33 billion over the next four years to improve road safety and help Australians get home sooner and safer.
This includes $65.3 million to provide more Heavy Vehicle Rest Areas and improve those that already exist.
The 2022-23 Budget also established a new $180.1 million Regional Australia Level Crossing Safety Program to improve level crossing safety across Australia.
The Coalition is also committed to extending funding for three important road safety programs, including $12 million for the Road Safety Innovation Fund, $10 million for Driver Reviver Site Upgrades and $4 million for the Road Safety Awareness and Enablers Fund.
The Federal Liberal and Nationals Government is delivering leadership on road safety as well as continuing to deliver vital road safety initiatives including the $3 billion Road Safety Program, $5.8 billion Roads of Strategic Importance initiative, $7.2 billion Roads to Recovery Program and the $1.3 billion Black Spots Program.
The funding is part of the Coalition’s record $120 billion, 10-year infrastructure investment program which is delivering new and existing infrastructure projects across the country and helping to improve safety outcomes.
Member for New England and Deputy Prime Minister, Barnaby Joyce said building on our record, a re-elected Coalition Government will continue to deliver more projects in regional areas, where the road fatality rate is disproportionately 10 deaths per 100,000 persons compared to two deaths per 100,000 persons in metropolitan areas.
Mr Joyce, who is also the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development said the Government is increasing its focus on making Australia’s roads safer.
“We must do everything we can to reduce deaths on our roads and spare families from the immeasurable impact road tragedies have,” Mr Joyce said.
“We must not only make roads safer, but more efficient. More reliable roads and freight routes will drive the growth of regional industries and ensure our valuable commodities can be sold to the world.”
Assistant Minister for Road Safety and Freight Transport Scott Buchholz said the program will benefit heavy vehicle drivers and the broader community by helping tackle fatigue and reducing the risk of crashes and high-risk behaviour.
“The new Heavy Vehicle Rest Area program builds on existing programs of investment to ensure the viability, safety, sustainability and efficiency of Australia’s road transport sector,” Assistant Minister Buchholz said.
“Infrastructure investment is central to the Coalition’s economic plan and these investments are only possible because of our strong record of economic management,” he said.
For more information see the Liberal and Nationals plan for “Keeping Australians safe on our roads” at nationals.org.au/election-2022