The NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has launched its new fund to support community-based road safety initiatives, following the winding up of the Road Safety Trust.
The new Community Road Safety Fund aims to improve road safety outcomes by co-funding, in partnership with others, high impact community projects which might otherwise not occur. This will include small, locally focussed projects as well as large national programmes.
Celia Patrick, the NZTA’s group manager Access and Use says the new fund reflects the NZTA’s commitment to work with road safety professionals and commercial partners to leverage existing networks, and maximise innovation and efficiency.
“The fund will support initiatives that promote the Safe System approach. It’ll focus on a few large, high impact projects but also support the more traditional, smaller community-based initiatives,” says Ms Patrick.
An advisory committee, made up of representatives from the NZTA, ACC, NZ Police and the AA will set the direction of, and make decisions for, the Community Road Safety Fund. Initiatives will be assessed against criteria relating to strategic fit, cost effectiveness, and partnering capability and capacity.
“One project where we’re already working with other organisations in this way is the Community Learner Driver Programme. We’re partnering with AA, local councils and community groups to help certain young drivers get the experience they need to become safer drivers and gain their restricted driving licence. Two slightly different pilot schemes are being trialled within the project and pending evaluation the results may feed in to a national rollout of the programme.”
“This sort of multi-faceted project wouldn’t be possible without the support of our commercial and transport sector partners, so we’re excited about the possibilities this new approach provides,” says Ms Patrick.
The NZTA’s portions of funds for the Community Road Safety Fund will continue to be provided by the profits from the sale of personalised plates.
For more information and details about how to team up with the NZTA on road safety initiatives, visit www.nzta.govt.nz/roadsafetyfund(external link)
