Accident lawyers in New South Wales know as well as anyone that the state’s road infrastructure could use some work if it’s going to become safer for the community.

Thankfully, we may be one step closer to this goal after state authorities announced a record-high investment for improving road safety. 

Late last month, Deputy Premier and Minister for Justice and Police Troy Grant and Minister for Roads, Maritime and Freight Duncan Gay announced that the state will increase road safety spending to $307 million over the next 12 months.

Where is the money going?

The largest proportion of this funding will go to developing the First State’s most hazardous areas, with $25.5 million earmarked for accident black spots. On top of that, $25 million has been set aside to help the NSW Police enforce roadside drug testing – welcome news indeed as intoxicated drivers are some of the most likely to cause an accident and injure another party.

“NSW Police figures show one in 285 breath tests returns a positive result, while one in 13 drug tests come back positive,” Minister Grant explained. “More than 90 per cent who test positive to drugs have more than one drug in their system.”

Further funding will go into helping improve the roads around schools, with the intention of reducing the number of accidents involving pedestrians in these often busy and at-risk areas.

“We are putting a safety cone around our schools, from flashing lights to safer crossings to designated pick-up and drop-off points, we’re improving school road safety in every way,” Minister Gay began.

“We said we’d get flashing lights to every school in NSW before the end of the year and we’re right on track to deliver, with more than 60 per cent of the current flashing lights roll-out already completed.”

A promising sign

As a law firm helping the community after car accident injuries, we feel it is very important to support all government measures to improve road safety.

Anyone who has been in a road accident – either as a pedestrian, cyclist or driver – will understand that prevention is better that the cure and that road investment is an ideal way to reduce injury and fatality statistics. However, even with record funding, there is some way to go to remove the risks altogether.

NSW residents who have been involved in a road accident that is not their fault will feel reassured that PK Simpson Lawyers specialising in accident injury compensation in NSW are also on their side fighting for the maximum compensation they are entitled to.