The Morrison government is promising to fix notorious road black spots and regional roads to improve safety under a $2.2 billion plan to be outlined in the federal budget next week.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
"Keeping Australians safe is my government's number one priority," Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Friday.
"The truth is fatal road accidents are far too common."
More than 1000 people died on Australian roads last year.
The budget will include:
* An extra $1.1 billion in funding for local governments under the Roads to Recovery program.
* An additional $550 million for the Black Spot Program, which targets known high-risk locations and has been found to reduce serious crashes by 30 per cent on average.
* A further $571.1 million to improve the safety and efficiency of heavy vehicle operations through new initiatives
Part of the plan will also be a federal Office of Road Safety.
Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack said the office would work with the states, territories and local government as well as road safety groups to prioritise ways to reduce deaths and injuries.
Australian Associated Press
