Towards Zero Foundation’s Post

I support the proposal from European Transport Safety Council (ETSC) about a more targeted allocation of funds to road safety, to cut road deaths and serious injuries by half by 2030 (https://lnkd.in/d22U9BR4)

The same call to action applies to the New Zealand Government. A national, evidence-based, safe system road safety strategy with clearly defined performance targets, is necessary. The graduated driver licensing scheme in New Zealand requires significant updates, as it has not been substantially improved since its inception decades ago. Enhancing our vehicle standards and requiring the installation of proven safety technologies in all new and used vehicles entering our fleet can lead to considerable road safety improvements. The establishment of an independent road safety investigations group would be beneficial. This would provide a thorough understanding of the actual causes of crashes within the safe system approach, shifting the focus from blame and prosecution, which currently predominate our data systems. More robust data on the roles of speed, vehicle standards, and road safety features (or their absence) on our roads in New Zealand is crucial, as these are also key factors contributing to fatalities and serious injuries. Furthermore, an independent entity should oversee road safety management in New Zealand, similar to Australia's Road Safety Victoria and the Federal Office of Road Safety. We simply must try and move away from road safety being treated as a political issue. With a superior road safety record (compared to New Zealand), the UK stands to improve even further if the incoming UK government implements the measures outlined by Jessica Truong, as part of their safe system approach. The pressure is squarely on New Zealand - we have one of the worst road safety records of developed countries in the world - for the sake of the New Zealand economy and productivity and for the sake of the life and health of all New Zealanders we must continue with the safe system work that we have started with Safer Journeys and Road to Zero. #roadsafety #safesystem #visonzero

Brent Sadler and Jerry Hendrix wrote a fantastic article with, from my count, 22 specific policy recommendations for the next administration on how to rebuild our maritime strength. Central to these policy recommendations is the fact that we need to rebuild the U.S. Navy to deter, and if necessary, defeat a coalition of adversaries (China, Russia, Iran, etc.) in a potential multi-theater conflict. Below are my Top 6 Recommendation I pulled from their full list (my prioritized list is not endorsed by the original authors): 1.      Make rebuilding the U.S. Navy the highest defense procurement priority, with the goal of reaching a battle fleet of 333 ships by 2029. We go to war with the fleet we have now, not the fleet we might have in 10 years. 333 ships by 2029 calls for an increase of 44 ships. That goal can only be reached if the Navy stops decommissioning ships faster than they build them, and if they review the 116 ships in the Inactive Fleet that could serve in near-shore operations because not every ship needs to power project into the First Island Chain. 2.      Establish a Five Ocean Navy Act, with the corresponding 35% increase in the Navy’s annual budget (~ $90 billion) so that the U.S. Navy has both the authority and funding to deter and defeat a coalition of adversaries in a multi-theater threat environment. Since the 1990’s, due to budget cuts and sequestration, the U.S. Navy has lost $1.2 trillion in funding and 50% of its ships, shipyards, manpower, and logistical capabilities. This budget deficit needs to be reversed. 3.      In order to rebuild the domestic shipbuilding ecosystem Congress should pass the “Ships for America Act” that currently has bi-partisan and bi-cameral support. 4.      Use Public Private Partnerships (PPP) to establish two new domestic shipyards for repair and maintenance. 5.      Establish “Maritime Opportunity Zones” to incentivize private investment in rebuilding our domestic maritime ecosystem. 6.      Continued investment in the Munitions-Ordnance Industrial Base because this will prioritize essential funding in the Critical Mineral Industrial base needed for advanced technologies. Also, platforms are great, but without the munitions they are just large floating targets.

Road Safety Leadership: An Agenda for the UK Annually over 30,000 people are killed or seriously injured on the UK’s roads – the equivalent of a medium-sized UK town suffering a catastrophic burden of injury every year. Countries are encouraged by the United Nations (UN) to accelerate road safety efforts to help reduce road trauma. Unfortunately, the UK has fallen behind global best practice, largely because it has failed to implement the General Safety Regulations which applies to all new vehicles for sale in the EU from 7 July 2024. Join us on 1st July as we discuss the key policy priorities and set out an agenda for road safety action for the next UK government. This event, hosted by PACTS and the Towards Zero Foundation (TZF), is open to all. Panellists include: David Ward, Meera Naran MBE, Richard Cuerden, Jessica T., Will Norman, Jamie Hassall, Dr Ian Greenwood, Steve Gooding, Dr Suzy Charman Register here: https://lnkd.in/ekv7Bsti #transportsafety #roadsafety

“Beyond the safety and the justice element of the [Earth Commission’s] work, there are other elements of the work that are also very important…” Earth Commission Co-chair Professor Fatima Denton discusses the progress made by the Commission so far on defining #SafeAndJust #EarthSystemBoundaries, and how the second assessment will continue to build on these foundations. Watch the full video below:

This is a massive effort: Huge impact to workforce and the set back to understanding Why? This was not already a safety concern with no measures in place to avoid a catastrophic event like this from happening: Loss of life, An engineer lasp of no counter measures in place that can provide support to avoid something like this from happening: Economic set back with now NTSB maritime leadership will express safety and economy security measures on all other ports that have possible lack of safety measures in place, port modifications are needed across the entire globe to help move global trade to its safest and innovative levels to keep moving the economic wheel moving. #Forwardthinkingglobally

The All Aboard Act is the next step toward realizing the resilient transportation and energy future that Solutionary Rail has championed over the last decade. I am proud to have played a small part, amongst many allies, in the creation of this landmark piece of legislation. Together, this All Aboard Act, the release of the Biden Administration's Rail Action Plan last week, the Univ. of Texas study on rail electrification and the DOE National Transmission Planning Study serve as a framework and toolkit for reshaping how the US utilizes this critical infrastructure to solve problems that transcend party affiliation. The Rail Action Plan connects the dots on freight mode share, transmission, and electrification. The University of Texas study provides clarity on cost benefit analysis. The DOE report identifies the cost/value of expanded transmission. Senator Markey's and his colleagues' leadership provides means to applyputting what we've learned and start building for the future. Now, all I want for Christmas is for the White House to get the Commerce Committee a name to confirm in order to fill the fifth seat on the Surface Transportation Board. Failing to do that would shortsighted, bordering on negligent. I'm not holding my breath, but want them to know that to fail to do this potentially undermines all the other work mentioned above. Thank you Senator Markey! https://lnkd.in/efcZtCFR

Amendments to the General Permitted Development Order have come into force, find out more about what this means in Callum’s blog: https://ow.ly/Zhet50R6q4I

Chapter 14 - Transport policy On maritime transport, Georgia is progressing towards the establishment of the Maritime Single Window. A pilot version of the system was launched in January 2024 and the Maritime Code was amended in June 2024 in line with the European Maritime Single Window environment Regulation. National legislation needs to be further aligned with the maritime transport acquis⚓️🇬🇪

Communal harmony is not just a moral imperative. It is practical. At a time when the nation is struggling with economic challenges, political uncertainty and international scrutiny, division weakens the collective strength needed to face the issues. It is like trying to row a boat with half the crew refusing to paddle. To read my full article published in the Newage, click the link given here- https://lnkd.in/gSiCwdz4