10. DARIEN FENTON (Labour) Link to this
to the Minister of Transport
Does he believe that communities must be involved in road safety education and activities to help prevent injuries and accidents, particularly for children?
Hon STEVEN JOYCE (Minister of Transport) Link to this
Yes, I believe every New Zealander has a role to play in improving road safety. That is why we are currently consulting with the public on Safer Journeys, which is the road safety strategy for the next 10 years. It is, of course, available on www.saferjourneys.govt.nz.
Why, then, is the Minister’s Government cutting funding for community transport safety education programmes in the National Land Transport Programme, and what effect will this have on communities that are having to revise school and workplace travel plans, cycle-safe programmes, drink-driving programmes, at-risk driver programmes, and safety-belt education programmes, and a host of other safety initiatives up and down the country, or does he not care?
I understand that the New Zealand Transport Agency, under its own initiative, has decided to undertake a value-for-money exercise on the demand management and community programmes activity class of the National Land Transport Programme, to which that member refers. That class had increases in expenditure last year of 45 percent on the previous year, and that year was 23 percent higher than the year before that. I think it is entirely appropriate that, with Government funds and road-user funds involved, the agency be very careful and ensure that every activity it undertakes has good value-for-money criteria.
Can we expect to see further cuts from the value-for-money review that the Minister is conducting in demand management and community education programmes, and should communities be preparing to cut the walking-bus programme and other programmes that keep children safe and encourage active and healthier modes of getting to school?
It is important that the member does not unnecessarily scaremonger in these matters. The Transport Agency has allocated $120 million for demand management and community programmes over the next 3 years. It is a considerable sum of money, and it is important that, from time to time, the agency reviews that expenditure and ensures that it provides value for money and achieves the outcomes we were seeking. I note that, despite the best efforts of the last road transport safety strategy, our road toll has not dropped significantly over the last 10 years, with the exception of a few months last year, and the number of injuries on the road has actually increased. Of course, if you keep doing what you have always done, you will keep getting what you always got.