Curtin University is holding a Healthy Roads initiatives to lessen the fatalities and injuries on the road.

Funded by the Office of Road Safety through the the road Trauma Trust Fund, the new endeavor by the university will concentrate on encouraging health organizations to be actively involve in advocating road safety.

The Healthy Roads initiative is based from a discussion taken at Curtin's Public Health Advocacy Institute by Advisory Committee and heal organization representatives.

Professor Geoff Dobb, the Director of Critical Care and Head of Intensive Care at Royal Perth Hospital, will take on the role as the Committee chair.

“He is a highly respected former Australian Medical Association President, and is Director of Critical Care and Head of Intensive Care at Royal Perth Hospital, so is well placed to guide the Healthy Roads initiative,” said Mike Daube, a professor of Health Policy at Curtin's Public Health Advocacy Institute.

Professor Dobb said the initiative will provide public awareness for those who are not health conscious of road crashes and long-term injuries.

“Every year nearly 3,000 people are admitted to hospital with serious injuries following road crashes,” he said.

“Healthy Roads will have a particular focus on the consequences of road injury for individuals, families and the community. Too many people do not understand how devastating the impact of long-term injury can be on individuals, families and the community.

Professor Dobb added that health professionals also have a vital role to help prevent road traffic injury and not put the responsibility solely by the police and transport sectors.

“They can and should be active in policy development, advocacy, research, injury surveillance, services, prevention and control, and evaluation. The Healthy Roads initiative will establish partnerships across a range of health organisations to develop and deliver advocacy in support of road safety.”

Healthcare Safety