APPLICATIONS OPEN FOR ROAD SAFETY INNOVATION FUNDING

The opportunity to drive the future of road safety innovation and technology is here, with applications for Round 1 of the Australian Government’s $12 million Road Safety Innovation Fund now open.

Federal Member for Petrie Hon Luke Howarth MP urged any organisations in Petrie with an interest in road safety research and development to apply for funding to help make a difference to the lives of all Australians.

“Improving road safety is something our entire community can contribute to and I encourage all organisations in the region with an interest in road safety innovation and technologies to apply for funding,” Mr Howarth said.

“Road crashes have an enormous emotional and economic impact on all affected communities, but particularly the families and friends of the victims.

“Innovation and technology are key tools that can help reduce the number of road crashes by ensuring road safety becomes ‘business as usual’ for all road users here in Petrie.”

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Michael McCormack said the program would provide grants for road safety research and technology development to improve safety outcomes for road users across the nation.

“The Australian Government takes road safety seriously, because one death or one crash on our roads is one too many,” Mr McCormack said.

“The fund will target innovative projects addressing priority areas including improving road safety in regional and remote areas, reducing driver distraction and drug driving and supporting better safety outcomes for vulnerable road users.

“I look forward to announcing successful projects to be funded under Round 1 of the Road Safety Innovation Fund in the coming months and seeing critical safety-improving projects get underway soon after.”

Assistant Minister for Road Safety and Freight Transport Scott Buchholz said the first round of the Road Safety Innovation Fund had $2 million available to fund projects across the country to run over the next four years.

“Potential projects can include innovation in road safety management initiatives, new technologies and delivery techniques or research that better informs policy development and outcomes,” Mr Buchholz said.

“This fund is just one of the many ways the Australian Government is investing in road safety to move towards zero fatalities and serious injuries on our roads.

“Other initiatives include the recent $4 million Road Safety Awareness and Enablers Fund, which is helping deliver targeted educational campaigns to reduce risky behaviour and increase road safety awareness, install life-saving speed signage and collaborate with the community on decreasing road trauma.”

The first round of applications closes 18 May 2020 and will be assessed through an open competitive process.

For further information, including application guidelines and submissions, for the $12 million Road Safety Innovation Fund are available at www.grants.gov.au.

• The Government’s commitment to road safety includes funding for the following initiatives:
• Established a new Office of Road Safety, which will support the Australian Government’s road safety agenda;
• $2.2 billion Local and State Government Road Safety Package which includes:
  • An additional $1.1 billion for the Roads to Recovery Program
  • An additional $550 million for the Black Spot Program
  • An additional $275 million for the Heavy Vehicle Safety and Productivity program
  • An additional $275 million for the Bridges to Renewal Program
• Fatality Free Friday – $220,000 over four years;
• $1.8 million provided to develop the Digital Road Safety Passport over two years,
• the $4 million Road Safety Awareness and Enablers Fund over four years,
• the $12 million Road Safety Innovation Fund over four years,
• $6.6 million funding of ANCAP over four years,
• $8 million provided to upgrade Driver Reviver sites over two years,
• $8 million to extend the Keys2Drive program to 30 June 2023, and
• $22 million over four years to the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) to continue the Heavy Vehicle Safety Initiatives (HVSI) program which funds practical initiatives to improve the safety of the heavy vehicle industry.