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A Summary of Victoria's Critical Success Factors

A Sound and Realistic Plan

An evidence-driven strategy is essential, one that focuses on the major problems and proposes interventions known to be effective. The plan must include objective targets (see Appendix) and mechanisms for monitoring progress and ensuring accountability for effective implementation. Public release of the plan and public monitoring of progress are key.

Political and Bureaucratic Leadership

Committed, political leadership by the ruling government is vital. This must be supported by equally committed leadership from each agency responsible for implementing the various components of the plan. There must be effective accountability mechanisms within each agency and between each agency and the political system.

Integrated Implementation

Traffic safety programs are characterized by the diversity of institutions involved in the implementation process. Integrated, coordinated implementation is an essential ingredient of the Victorian success story. The forging of effective cooperative relationships among senior staff in the key implementing agencies provides clarity of roles and functions and ensures synergistic implementation. In Victoria, the ability of the monopoly no-fault injury compensation insurer to invest in integrated safety programs has been critical. The principle is to link the investment source and the immediate economic beneficiary of the investment.

Enabling Factors

In the Victorian success story, the following enablers appear important:

  1. A history of success with interventions based on legislation and enforcement helped create a political willingness to act.
  2. Strong relationships have long existed between the traffic safety research community and policymakers in each of the key government agencies, facilitating evidence-based planning and target setting.
  3. These relationships have helped create sound data sets but, more important, a climate in which the scientific evaluations of interventions are routine.
  4. The extensive public education traffic safety programs have been instrumental in creating a climate of community concern for road safety and support for effective interventions.
  5. The media historically have been supportive of effective interventions, which further facilitates political willingness to act.
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Page last modified on November 7, 2014
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