‘Critical role’ for education in reducing Territory ‘road toll crisis’ as 50 dead already

Education has ‘critical role’ in reducing the Territory’s ‘road toll crisis’, advocates say, as they call on the government to step in. Find out how.

Indigenous Road Safety Academy (ISRA) founder and chief executive Martina Hazelbane. Picture: Supplied

Road safety education could be the key to reducing the Northern Territory’s “road toll crisis”, advocates say, as the Northern Territory reaches the grim milestone of 50 road deaths for the year to date.

With a pedestrian being hit by a car in Alice Springs on Sunday, September 15, marking the somber milestone, Indigenous Road Safety Academy (ISRA) founder and chief executive Martina Hazelbane said education played a “critical role” in reducing lives lost on the road.

“I am deeply concerned about the current road safety crisis and its disproportionate effect on Aboriginal people,” she said.

“IRSA believes that a multifaceted approach is essential to addressing the high road toll in the NT.”

Ms Hazelbane said there were a number of areas the government should focus on to “address the road toll crisis” in the NT.

She said enhanced support for driver licensing; investment in road safety education; infrastructure improvements; community engagement; and increasing funding for remote programs were some of the areas the new government needed to focus on.

Indigenous Road Safety Academy (ISRA) founder and chief executive Martina Hazelbane collaborating with local police. Picture: Supplied

“Many Aboriginal people in remote and regional areas lack proper driver licensing due to barriers such as high costs, literacy challenges, and limited access to driver education,” Ms Hazelbane said.

“Road safety education and licensing processes are often not tailored to the needs of Aboriginal communities, leading to lower engagement and understanding.”

Northern Territory Police Assistant Commissioner Travis Wurst said it had been four weekends in a row where a life was lost on a Territory road.

“Four lives far too many; 50 lives far too many,” he said.

“We all need to stop and think about what we’re doing in our roads.

“Drive safely and do not drive in a way that will cause you to be a statistic.”

Mr Wurst said with December coming up, he wanted to remind people to drive to the conditions – especially during the Top End’s wet season.

But he also stressed the importance of road safety education – especially to new drivers in the Territory.

“If you’re a new Territorian and you haven’t experienced a wet season previously, you need to make sure you slow down in some of those monsoonal storms,” he said.

“If you pull over, pull off the road – there’s nothing more tragic than knowing that we’ve had crashes where people have stopped in the middle of the road because they cannot see, and other vehicles haven’t been able to see them as a consequence.”

Larapinta Drive, west of Alice Springs. Picture: Gera Kazakov

For DriveAbout World founder and managing director Clinton Hoffmann, tackling the road toll crisis requires “not only traditional measures but also innovative solutions”.

“The new government has a unique opportunity to demonstrate leadership and innovation in addressing the NT’s road safety crisis,” he said.

Mr Hoffman said his Territory-born company provided digital road safety education, which has been crafted “with a deep understanding of the unique challenges faced by drivers in the NT and beyond”.

Indigenous Road Safety Academy teaching road safety out at Uluru. Picture: Supplied

“Education plays a crucial role in preventing road deaths, and the current approach to driver education in the NT is lacking in effectiveness,” he said.

“Traditionally, the NT Road Users Guide in analog form, along with its English version, is rarely read in depth by new drivers.

“DriveAbout’s innovative EdTech products address these gaps by providing engaging, interactive digital education that makes road safety principles clear and memorable.”

Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro said this year’s road toll “is tragic and unacceptable”.

“Every Territorian has a role to play in road safety,” she said.

“This includes our hardworking police, and the government, in ensuring education, awareness and enforcement.

“As a community, we all have a responsibility to each other and our loved ones.”

Originally published as ‘Critical role’ for education in reducing Territory ‘road toll crisis’ as 50 dead already