ABOUT US

“Australian Drivers Association, ‘ADRA’, is here to serve as a watchdog and voice for the Australian road user”.

HISTORY

The Australian Drivers Association (ADRA) is a non-profit association, which was formed in 1998. It has over 10,000 members and has the primary aim of highlighting the issues affecting drivers’ rights and road safety concerns.

ADRA finds that because legislation for road traffic and road safety is primarily dealt with by government agencies, even though at times public comment is requested, more often than not, the average road user doesn’t get a say in the process. ADRA is here as they’re representative to help change that!

According to the Office of Road Safety WA on road crash statistics, during 2000 there were 185 fatal crashes in Western Australia where 213 people lost their lives. Fatalities were lower than in 1999 (n = 218), however since 1996 Western Australia has had the second highest road fatality rate per population in Australia. In 31 percent of all fatal crashes, speed was considered to be a factor contributing to the crash.

In the metropolitan area, the most common crash types which resulted in a fatality were ‘hit pedestrian’ crashes (24% of all fatal metropolitan crashes), followed by ‘hit object’ crashes (22%), and ‘head on’ crashes (19%).

ADRA is concerned with these figures and has developed a way in which to reduce road statistics, with the successful implementation of the Safety Warning System in Western Australia since 2002.

Currently there are more than 50 Safety Warning Systems installed in select Western Australian emergency vehicles – the most recent in ambulances. While other installations have seen roadwork vehicles, construction traffic management vehicles and tow trucks being fitted with the SWS device.

Once installed, the SWS transmitters can be switched on to begin working immediately to warn drivers up to one kilometre away of the approach of an emergency vehicle. Drivers with In-Car receivers (Driver Warning Systems) will be provided with a warning via voice and LED display.

The current use of the Safety Warning System, which now protects many of the states “at risk workers”, has gained strong support from Unions, workers and Western Australian motorists. The CFMEU recommended, at their national conference, that the SWS be utilised Australia wide.

SERVICES
ADRA offers a number of services to assist the Australian road user, including: