http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/wa/12825993/road-safety-expert-calls-for-30km-h-limit-trials/
Speed limits of 30km/h should be tested near shopping areas, hospitals, schools and aged-care homes after WA had the biggest number of pedestrian deaths in 11 years, road safety experts said yesterday.
Curtin-Monash Accident Research Centre director Brett Hughes said 30km/h speed limit trials were needed after 26 pedestrians were killed by vehicles in WA last year - the equal worst toll since 2000 when 34 pedestrians died.
He said research showed a person hit by a vehicle travelling at 30km/h had a strong chance of surviving, but those hit at 50km/h rarely lived.
Mr Hughes said lower limits should be tested in Perth's busy areas such as shopping precincts and where there were high numbers of vulnerable pedestrians, such as the elderly, the sick and children.
Main Roads WA has tested lower speed limits at six locations. The first of those trials, which cut the limit by 10km/h to 40km/h on a stretch of Beaufort Street, finished last year.
Others include 40km/h on a part of Albany Highway in Victoria Park, 30km/h on a part of Oxford Street in Leederville and 50km/h on stretches of Great Eastern Highway in Mundaring and South Western Highway in Byford.
Main Roads acting traffic manager Clint Cooper said they would meet Office of Road Safety and local government representatives next month to discuss the trials.
Transport Minister Troy Buswell said the trial results would "provide a valuable guide in determining the most effective and appropriate treatments to enhance pedestrian safety at specific locations".
Shadow road safety minister Michelle Roberts said she would support 30km/h trials in limited locations.
She said an analysis of the deaths last year, such as where, when and how, was needed to better understand the increase.
Gilbert Crossley's 74-year-old wife Eileen died when hit by a car as she crossed Lloyd Street in Midland last month. He believes she would not have been killed if the limit had been 30km/h, not 60km/h, on the road adjacent to Midland Gate Shopping Centre.
"I think they should try 30km/h limits," he said. "If it only saves even one person then it is a good thing."
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
www.cameracommissioner.vic.gov.au
Road Safety Camera Commissioner
07 Feb, 2012
Motorists will be represented by Australia's first independent Road Safety Camera Commissioner as the Victorian Government continues to increase integrity measures around speed and red light cameras.
Deputy Premier and Minister for Police Peter Ryan said former County Court Judge Gordon Lewis AM would provide independent oversight of Victoria's road safety camera system.
The Road Safety Camera Commissioner's office will perform the following roles:
quality assurance and reporting: to independently monitor and review current camera operations.
investigation and review: any part of the system at his own choosing, or if requested by the Minister to do so.
complaints management: so any person who feels they have been hard-done-by can lodge a complaint with the Camera Commissioner, though it will not be his role to intervene in individual cases; and
reference group: the Camera Commissioner will be able to establish a reference group of external advisors to assist him in his role.
The Road Safety Camera Commissioner's Office can be contacted on 1300 651 838 or by visiting www.cameracommissioner.vic.gov.au.
Complaints or correspondence to the Commissioner should be in writing and addressed to the Road Safety Camera Commissioner, Locked Bag 14, Collins Street East, Melbourne VIC 8003.
07 Feb, 2012
Motorists will be represented by Australia's first independent Road Safety Camera Commissioner as the Victorian Government continues to increase integrity measures around speed and red light cameras.
Deputy Premier and Minister for Police Peter Ryan said former County Court Judge Gordon Lewis AM would provide independent oversight of Victoria's road safety camera system.
The Road Safety Camera Commissioner's office will perform the following roles:
quality assurance and reporting: to independently monitor and review current camera operations.
investigation and review: any part of the system at his own choosing, or if requested by the Minister to do so.
complaints management: so any person who feels they have been hard-done-by can lodge a complaint with the Camera Commissioner, though it will not be his role to intervene in individual cases; and
reference group: the Camera Commissioner will be able to establish a reference group of external advisors to assist him in his role.
The Road Safety Camera Commissioner's Office can be contacted on 1300 651 838 or by visiting www.cameracommissioner.vic.gov.au.
Complaints or correspondence to the Commissioner should be in writing and addressed to the Road Safety Camera Commissioner, Locked Bag 14, Collins Street East, Melbourne VIC 8003.
Progressive’s Image Capture Technology Saves Users Time, Helps Drivers Quote and Buy Auto Insurance Using Their Smartphone Camera Read more here: htt
http://www.sunherald.com/2012/02/02/3726414/progressives-image-capture-technology.html
Consumers can get a quote in minutes by snapping a picture
E-MAIL
PRINT
REPRINT OR LICENSE
TEXT SIZE:
MAYFIELD VILLAGE, Ohio -- With Image Capture from Progressive® Insurance, consumers can get a car insurance quote in minutes. The new mobile photo quoting technology, only available from Progressive, simplifies the insurance quoting and buying process by using a smartphone camera and the existing Progressive app. Image Capture is a first in the insurance industry, capitalizing on the popular technology used to deposit checks in the banking industry.
To use Image Capture, consumers enter their zip code and take a picture of their driver’s license, Vehicle Identification Number or existing insurance ID card with their smartphone. The app scans the image for information such as name and address, and auto-populates the necessary information to get an auto insurance quote. The user confirms the information is correct, and receives an auto insurance quote in minutes, with the option to buy the policy.
“We introduced Image Capture with the goal of simplifying the process of getting an auto insurance quote,” said Matt Lehman, Progressive’s mobile business leader. “The new technology gives consumers another way to get insurance by using items most people have in their pocket or purse – a smartphone and a driver’s license.”
Image Capture, powered by Mitek Systems, will initially roll out to 15 states in February. Additional states will be added throughou
Read more here: http://www.sunherald.com/2012/02/02/3726414/progressives-image-capture-technology.html#storylink=cpy
Consumers can get a quote in minutes by snapping a picture
REPRINT OR LICENSE
TEXT SIZE:
MAYFIELD VILLAGE, Ohio -- With Image Capture from Progressive® Insurance, consumers can get a car insurance quote in minutes. The new mobile photo quoting technology, only available from Progressive, simplifies the insurance quoting and buying process by using a smartphone camera and the existing Progressive app. Image Capture is a first in the insurance industry, capitalizing on the popular technology used to deposit checks in the banking industry.
To use Image Capture, consumers enter their zip code and take a picture of their driver’s license, Vehicle Identification Number or existing insurance ID card with their smartphone. The app scans the image for information such as name and address, and auto-populates the necessary information to get an auto insurance quote. The user confirms the information is correct, and receives an auto insurance quote in minutes, with the option to buy the policy.
“We introduced Image Capture with the goal of simplifying the process of getting an auto insurance quote,” said Matt Lehman, Progressive’s mobile business leader. “The new technology gives consumers another way to get insurance by using items most people have in their pocket or purse – a smartphone and a driver’s license.”
Image Capture, powered by Mitek Systems, will initially roll out to 15 states in February. Additional states will be added throughou
Read more here: http://www.sunherald.com/2012/02/02/3726414/progressives-image-capture-technology.html#storylink=cpy
Friday, February 3, 2012
the Road Safety Remuneration Bill set to go through Federal Parliament early this year, the TWU has been active in lobbying NSW MPs to sign a pledge t
http://www.twunsw.org.au/enews/Safe_Rates_Campaign_continues.shtml
2 Feb, 2012
With the Road Safety Remuneration Bill set to go through Federal Parliament early this year, the TWU has been active in lobbying NSW MPs to sign a pledge to support the legislation.
Currently we’ve received undertakings from a number of MPs to sign this pledge but are still pressing forward to get the support this bill deserves.
Recently Stephen Jones, the Federal Member for Throsby on the South Coast, met with TWU official Lee Lawler and member Len Hartley and discussed the bill. Stephen has publicly declared his support for the bill and signed our pledge.
2 Feb, 2012
With the Road Safety Remuneration Bill set to go through Federal Parliament early this year, the TWU has been active in lobbying NSW MPs to sign a pledge to support the legislation.
Currently we’ve received undertakings from a number of MPs to sign this pledge but are still pressing forward to get the support this bill deserves.
Recently Stephen Jones, the Federal Member for Throsby on the South Coast, met with TWU official Lee Lawler and member Len Hartley and discussed the bill. Stephen has publicly declared his support for the bill and signed our pledge.
The Government will establish a new national road safety system to tackle speed, fatigue and dangerous work practices
http://www.minister.infrastructure.gov.au/aa/releases/2011/November/AA215_2011.aspx
The Government will establish a new national road safety system to tackle speed, fatigue and dangerous work practices in the trucking industry - to make Australia’s roads safer for all drivers.
The new Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal will have the ability to set pay or pay-related conditions to ensure safe driving practices.
This will save lives by ensuring that truck drivers are paid reasonably for the work they do, getting rid of the economic incentive for drivers to take unacceptable risks on our roads.
Around 250 people are killed and more than 1,000 people suffer serious injuries on our roads each year in accidents involving trucks. Most of those deaths involve other vehicles in a collision with trucks.
Truck drivers should not have to speed, overload their trucks, drive excessive hours or cut back on vehicle maintenance just to make a decent living.
The Government will introduce legislation this week to establish a national Road Safety Remuneration System comprising a Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal and a separate education and compliance framework.
The Tribunal will begin work on 1 July, 2012 and will include members from Fair Work Australia along with independent work, health and safety experts.
Where the tribunal determines that a sector of the industry has poor safety outcomes as a result of low remuneration, the tribunal will be able to make a Road Safety Remuneration Order to improve the on-road safety outcomes for drivers operating in that sector.
The Government has been working on this legislation for some time we released the Safe Rates, Safe Roads Directions Paper last year for public submissions and since the Safe Rates Advisory Group was established 12 months ago, industry has been consulted every step of the way.
Research by the National transport Commission shows low rates of pay can lead to and risky work practices by drivers to make ends meet.
These risky practices by drivers include speeding, long hours and using illicit substances.
The truck driving sector continues to have the highest incidence of fatal injuries compared to all other industries with 25 deaths per 100,000 workers in 2008-09 10 times the average for all industries.
In 2010, the total cost of heavy vehicle related accidents involving fatalities and serious injuries was $2.7 billion.
The Road Safety Remuneration System would complement existing and new initiatives in the road transport industry such as the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator.
The Australian Government is committed to improving safety outcomes for truck drivers, while ensuring the long term viability of the road transport industry.
The nation’s roads are shared by all Australians and it is in everyone’s interests to ensure better safety on our roads.
The Government will establish a new national road safety system to tackle speed, fatigue and dangerous work practices in the trucking industry - to make Australia’s roads safer for all drivers.
The new Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal will have the ability to set pay or pay-related conditions to ensure safe driving practices.
This will save lives by ensuring that truck drivers are paid reasonably for the work they do, getting rid of the economic incentive for drivers to take unacceptable risks on our roads.
Around 250 people are killed and more than 1,000 people suffer serious injuries on our roads each year in accidents involving trucks. Most of those deaths involve other vehicles in a collision with trucks.
Truck drivers should not have to speed, overload their trucks, drive excessive hours or cut back on vehicle maintenance just to make a decent living.
The Government will introduce legislation this week to establish a national Road Safety Remuneration System comprising a Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal and a separate education and compliance framework.
The Tribunal will begin work on 1 July, 2012 and will include members from Fair Work Australia along with independent work, health and safety experts.
Where the tribunal determines that a sector of the industry has poor safety outcomes as a result of low remuneration, the tribunal will be able to make a Road Safety Remuneration Order to improve the on-road safety outcomes for drivers operating in that sector.
The Government has been working on this legislation for some time we released the Safe Rates, Safe Roads Directions Paper last year for public submissions and since the Safe Rates Advisory Group was established 12 months ago, industry has been consulted every step of the way.
Research by the National transport Commission shows low rates of pay can lead to and risky work practices by drivers to make ends meet.
These risky practices by drivers include speeding, long hours and using illicit substances.
The truck driving sector continues to have the highest incidence of fatal injuries compared to all other industries with 25 deaths per 100,000 workers in 2008-09 10 times the average for all industries.
In 2010, the total cost of heavy vehicle related accidents involving fatalities and serious injuries was $2.7 billion.
The Road Safety Remuneration System would complement existing and new initiatives in the road transport industry such as the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator.
The Australian Government is committed to improving safety outcomes for truck drivers, while ensuring the long term viability of the road transport industry.
The nation’s roads are shared by all Australians and it is in everyone’s interests to ensure better safety on our roads.
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
nsw More warning for NSW mobile speed cameras
http://news.ninemsn.com.au/national/8411123/more-warning-for-nsw-mobile-speed-cameras
NSW motorists are to get earlier warning of "sneaky" mobile speed cameras.
State roads minister Duncan Gay has ordered bigger signs in camera locations, to eliminate "that whole feeling of entrapment" some drivers experience.
"Sneakiness in this area certainly does concern me," Mr Gay told the Seven Network on Monday.
"Road safety should have a deterrent role."
Private firm Redflex began operating six mobile speed cameras in July 2010, on a contract for the NSW government.
But the Seven Network has reported concerns that motorists are being given little or no notice when they are approaching the devices.
Mr Gay said he had ordered Roads and Maritime Services to replace the old signs.
"I've instructed the department to put in place larger signs, further away from these cameras," he said.
NSW motorists are to get earlier warning of "sneaky" mobile speed cameras.
State roads minister Duncan Gay has ordered bigger signs in camera locations, to eliminate "that whole feeling of entrapment" some drivers experience.
"Sneakiness in this area certainly does concern me," Mr Gay told the Seven Network on Monday.
"Road safety should have a deterrent role."
Private firm Redflex began operating six mobile speed cameras in July 2010, on a contract for the NSW government.
But the Seven Network has reported concerns that motorists are being given little or no notice when they are approaching the devices.
Mr Gay said he had ordered Roads and Maritime Services to replace the old signs.
"I've instructed the department to put in place larger signs, further away from these cameras," he said.
Insurers Use Rewards To Make Customers Safer, Cheaper
http://news.investors.com/Article/599170/201201271358/unitedhealth-progressive-reward-safer-healthier-customers.htm
Just as credit card companies offer rewards points to encourage more shopping, insurers offer incentives to foster safer habits — for your benefit and theirs.
Call it positive reinforcement via positive reimbursement. UnitedHealth Group (UNH), Progressive (PGR) and Allstate (ALL) are among the companies offering incentives in exchange for certain types of actions and behavior.
"You're getting at the heart of insurance business models, which is risk prediction," said Richard Hutchinson, Progressive's general manager for usage-based insurance.
The idea is that safer or healthier people cost less money, and insurers are choosing to reward good behavior rather than punish bad behavior.
Under UnitedHealth's Personal Rewards program, people with chronic conditions can get discounts on premiums or cash for fulfilling tasks on a personalized health road map.
By getting certain tests and screenings, meeting regularly with doctors, and agreeing to "wellness" coaching, policy holders rack up points that can translate to savings of up $1,200 a year.
For now, the program focuses on taking certain actions vs. producing actual results, such as losing pounds or lowering blood pressure. That's supposed to set people up for success rather than set them up for discouragement.
"You could easily succeed," said Yasmine Winkler, senior VP of product and innovation at UnitedHealthcare. "We're making it as easy as possible."
Cost Trade-Offs
The policy holder's employer pays for the incentives, betting that employees who execute a healthy game plan will have lower health care costs.
Personal Rewards is available to Hertz Global Holdings (HTZ) and Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL) workers as well as UnitedHealth employees.
More than three-quarters of UnitedHealth's participants have earned points, and more than half have received some type of reward. They have also seen an average weight loss of 4.5%.
One worker even discovered he had three blocked arteries and had bypass surgery days later. He credited his Personal Rewards road map, which called for certain screenings, with saving his life.
For most participants, the program saves money, provides something to talk about at the water cooler, and pits spouses against each other in weight-loss contests.
"It's interesting to see what people are motivated by," Winkler said. "It's about coming up with the winning combination."
UnitedHealth is thinking about expanding the types of rewards people can get like gift cards or prizes.
The insurer is also developing mobile apps to incorporate in the program and is working with makers of video game consoles to create health-related games.
Just as credit card companies offer rewards points to encourage more shopping, insurers offer incentives to foster safer habits — for your benefit and theirs.
Call it positive reinforcement via positive reimbursement. UnitedHealth Group (UNH), Progressive (PGR) and Allstate (ALL) are among the companies offering incentives in exchange for certain types of actions and behavior.
"You're getting at the heart of insurance business models, which is risk prediction," said Richard Hutchinson, Progressive's general manager for usage-based insurance.
The idea is that safer or healthier people cost less money, and insurers are choosing to reward good behavior rather than punish bad behavior.
Under UnitedHealth's Personal Rewards program, people with chronic conditions can get discounts on premiums or cash for fulfilling tasks on a personalized health road map.
By getting certain tests and screenings, meeting regularly with doctors, and agreeing to "wellness" coaching, policy holders rack up points that can translate to savings of up $1,200 a year.
For now, the program focuses on taking certain actions vs. producing actual results, such as losing pounds or lowering blood pressure. That's supposed to set people up for success rather than set them up for discouragement.
"You could easily succeed," said Yasmine Winkler, senior VP of product and innovation at UnitedHealthcare. "We're making it as easy as possible."
Cost Trade-Offs
The policy holder's employer pays for the incentives, betting that employees who execute a healthy game plan will have lower health care costs.
Personal Rewards is available to Hertz Global Holdings (HTZ) and Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL) workers as well as UnitedHealth employees.
More than three-quarters of UnitedHealth's participants have earned points, and more than half have received some type of reward. They have also seen an average weight loss of 4.5%.
One worker even discovered he had three blocked arteries and had bypass surgery days later. He credited his Personal Rewards road map, which called for certain screenings, with saving his life.
For most participants, the program saves money, provides something to talk about at the water cooler, and pits spouses against each other in weight-loss contests.
"It's interesting to see what people are motivated by," Winkler said. "It's about coming up with the winning combination."
UnitedHealth is thinking about expanding the types of rewards people can get like gift cards or prizes.
The insurer is also developing mobile apps to incorporate in the program and is working with makers of video game consoles to create health-related games.
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