LBRCA calls for infrastructure investment to improve road safety

The Livestock, Bulk and Rural Carriers Association (LBRCA) has issued six recommendations in response to the mid-term review of the National Road Safety Strategy. The association argues that road safety cannot be achieved through enforcement alone and warns against using fines and speed limit reductions as substitutes for infrastructure investment and education.

LBRCA President Wade Lewis emphasized that drivers prioritize safety, but noted that “you cannot enforce your way out of a bad road.” The association is calling for improved regional freight investment, specifically targeting road surfaces, shoulders, intersections, and rest areas.

Key recommendations include: • Improving heavy vehicle crash and injury data to better distinguish involvement from causation. • Prioritizing infrastructure on regional freight routes, including overtaking opportunities and loading facilities. • Implementing competency-based licensing reforms to develop safer drivers. • Recognizing the safety benefits of modern vehicles and rewarding voluntary industry safety initiatives.