A new Roads & Safety Strategy developed by Kempsey Shire Council is now on public exhibition.
This strategy has been developed to help us achieve the federal and state target of zero fatalities and serious injuries on our roads by 2050.
To develop an understanding of the road safety issues we face, we have analysed the data on local crashes, looked at road safety best practices around the world, and worked with road safety experts.
In the five years from 2017 to 2021, 107 people were seriously injured and 14 people lost their lives on the roads in Kempsey Shire. On average 19 serious injury crashes and two fatal crashes are regularly occurring every year, which cause an immeasurable amount of grief, loss, and tragedy for our community.
While our Shire performs well compared to other councils in the area, the loss of any life on our roads remains an outcome we are resolute to prevent.
Kempsey Shire plans to adopt the Transport for NSW Road Safety Action Plan (2026) that sets a target of halving the number of road deaths on our roads and reducing the number of serious injuries by 30% by 2030. We aim to play our part in reaching these targets and making our roads and streets safer.
Using this information, we have identified four strategic themes that will drive our road safety program over the next ten years:
- Leadership and Best Practice – We aim to apply road safety techniques and make decisions based on sound evidence. We will continuously improve our community’s infrastructure and make efforts to engage with our community to understand their needs.
- Safe System Approach – We aim to apply the Safe System approach which involves four pillars that work individually and in conjunction with each other to reduce fatal and serious injury crashes. These are: Safe Roads, Safe Speeds, Safe People, and Safe Vehicles. Using this system, Kempsey Shire will align itself with the federal and state government approach to road safety.
- Sustainable Infrastructure – Having sustainable infrastructure will prepare our roads for the future and create a reliable transport network.
- Working Together – To shape the future of road safety we will work with our road safety partners and the local community, as safety is everyone’s responsibility.
Kempsey Shire’s Road Safety Strategy 2023-2033 has been developed on these principles and will be delivered with your support and the support of our road safety partners.
We are inviting the community to read the plan, ask a question and make a submission at: Kempsey Roads & Safety Strategy | Your Say Macleay (nsw.gov.au)
