Issues
The issues of the current year will be documented here. Below are links to other pages documenting YACSA's work.
The Youth Affairs Council of South Australia (YACSA) and Group Training Australia (SA) are working together to gather information about how young people use their cars, especially young people who are employed, or are undertaking an apprenticeship or traineeship. See the suumary of YACSA's response to the draft strategy after the survey link. As well we are conducting polls of road safety question on our Facebook page (link above) which we would like responses to.
It would be great if you could fill in the following survey - it should only take about 10 minutes. Plus, you could win an iTunes voucher - please provide contact details at the end of the survey to be included in the draw.
We will be using the information you provide to support our ongoing advocacy regarding the driving age in South Australia.
Draft South Australian Road Safety Strategy 2020
There has been much debate in the public arena concerning young people and road safety, especially in the context of the Draft South Australian Road Safety Strategy 2020. This issue will be a mjor one for YACSA so please visit this page often to stay informed of our advocacy work in this area. Already there have been two media releases, a response to the draft and numerous quotations from the Executive Director in various articles in the media.
Here is the executive summary of YACSA's response to the document
- YACSA supports any initiative that attempts to ameliorate or prevent damage or injury before it occurs and therefore supports of an increase in the distribution of funding targeting roads and road infrastructure most in need of development.
- YACSA is strongly in favour of investment in the physical infrastructure of South Australia’s road network, and we would be particularly keen to see an ongoing, annual increase in the amount spent directly on safety-related infrastructure.
- YACSA’s support for speed-related initiatives is limited to those that are implemented following significant community consultation, and can demonstrate a clear evidence base particular to that area.
- YACSA supports the measure to introduce speed-limiting ISAs and/or alcohol ignition interlocks into vehicles owned and driven by recidivist speeders; however we would have serious concerns over the mandatory fitting of ISAs to vehicles owned and driven by drivers who have not been found guilty of any traffic offence, particularly if this were to apply only to young people.
- Young drivers are likely to face a significantly increased risk of severe injury or death should they ever be involved in a crash, because their cars are likely to be older and less safe. Measures taken to assist young people in purchasing new cars and increasing their safety on the road must focus on direct financial incentives.
- YACSA maintains that funding for road safety education programs within school curriculum is an effective use of government expenditure.
- Increased restrictions for young people participating in a graduated licensing scheme (GLS) can create barriers to employment, education, training and social activities, and disproportionately disadvantage young people for relatively little gain.
- Because community attitudes and practices have a considerable effect on young people’s driving behaviours, decreases in road injury and fatality rates are much more likely to be achieved through whole-of-community attitudinal and behavioural change. YACSA asserts that changing the community’s attitude towards driving is the most effective way to change people’s behaviour on the road.
- YACSA recognises that an inclusive, educative approach to driver training for young people is most successful in changing the attitudes, behaviours and practices which affect young people’s safety on the road.
- YACSA considers it vital to the interests of young people to change the way in which road safety messages are delivered, to emphasise the entire community’s responsibility for their own driving behaviour, and the impact that can have on others
- Road safety advertising that makes a positive emotional appeal to young people is far more effective at changing behaviour than negative, fear-based approaches.
- YACSA remains convinced that at present, driver education in South Australia provides young people with the lowest level of information and skills required to obtain a license, as opposed to actually teaching young people how to drive. This system of driver education fails to give consideration to the societal context in which young people are driving.
Submissions & Responses
The Submissions & Responses page lists submissions and responses made by YACSA in the current year. Submissions and responses from previous years are available from a link on the page.
Media
The Media page lists media releases made by YACSA in the current year. Media releases from previous years are available from a link on the page.
Think-Tanks
The Think-tank page loutlines the Policy Council Think-tanks of the current year.
Issues Papers
The Issue Papers page lists the occassional issues papers on matters of concern to its members and the wider community.
Campaigns
The Campaigns page documents some of YACSA's over the years. Any current campaigns will be detailed on the Issues tab.