From Tragedy to Action: RTSG's Fight for Safer Roads
Duncan Wakes-Miller and Katie Dokmanovic at the ARSF Awards
From Tragedy to Action: RTSG's Fight for Safer Roads
In the face of rising road fatalities, the Road Trauma Support Group NSW (RTSG) stands as a pillar of hope and resilience. Powered by the profound personal stories of individuals like Duncan Wakes-Miller and Katie Dokmanovic, whose teenage sons were tragically killed in criminal road crashes caused by reckless, inexperienced drivers, RTSG is a vocal advocate for sweeping road safety reforms across Australia.
At the recent Australian Road Safety Awards in Canberra, RTSG revealed it’s Law Reform Manifesto nationally and took the opportunity to press for urgent action. Represented by Wakes-Miller and Dokmanovic, the group appealed to the Honourable Carol Brown, Assistant Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, advocating for a collaborative, nationwide strategy on road safety and crucial data-sharing initiatives.
This push is against a grim backdrop, with 1,266 lives lost nationally in 2023—a stark 7.3% increase from the previous year. In New South Wales alone, road deaths surged by 70 compared to the prior year, up to 351, affecting 1.8 million residents who now know someone killed on the roads. These numbers, detailed in RTSG’s "The Enduring Impact of Criminal Road Trauma in NSW" report, developed with FiftyFive (part of AccentureSong), are more than statistics—they narrate the ongoing grief of communities and underscore the pressing need for systemic change.
This research underpins RTSG’s advocacy, providing a data-driven foundation for their push for legislative and systemic changes. The group’s Law Reform Manifesto is a blueprint for this endeavour, advocating for measures such as:
Introduction of a Serious Road Crimes Act: This legislation aims to consolidate and enhance the legal framework to address road-related offences effectively.
Enhanced Penalties and Deterrents: Proposes revising sentencing guidelines to ensure punishments genuinely reflect the severity of road crimes, thus serving as a deterrent.
Mandatory Reporting of Road Fatalities: Advocates for protocols akin to workplace safety that would guarantee transparency and foster accountability.
Shift in Legal and Public Language: Suggests changing terms from 'accident' to 'vehicular homicide' to stress the preventability of these tragedies.
Victim Impact Panels: These would require offenders to confront the emotional aftermath of their actions, helping to humanise the consequences and potentially reduce future offences.
The raw experiences from RTSG members like Duncan and Katie infuse these policy recommendations with urgent human relevance. Their firsthand experiences with the inadequacies of current laws and systems fuel their advocacy, driven by a deep commitment to preventing such heartbreak for other families.
RTSG also champions comprehensive educational and preventative strategies. They call for mandatory road safety education and targeted campaigns that foster a culture of accountability, particularly among high-risk groups like young drivers. Furthermore, the group underlines the critical importance of victim-centric support systems, offering extensive assistance including counselling, legal help, and financial support to help families heal and advocate for effective reforms.
The Road Trauma Support Group NSW is actively working towards tangible improvements, not just proposing them. They urge community members, policymakers, and stakeholders to unite in this life-saving mission. As Duncan Wakes-Miller poignantly puts it, "It is imperative that we unite to transform our road safety approach, turning our collective grief into proactive change that saves lives." With community support and data-driven strategies, RTSG is dedicated to paving the way towards a safer future for all road users in NSW.
15 July, 2024