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Paper Title:
Police...Partners...Progress
In Road Safety: The Central Coast Experience
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Authors:
Jacqueline Clarke, A
Wenban, B Walker, B Eggins
Abstract:
Road Safety has always
been a priority for Gosford City and Wyong Shire Councils and the
local Police. Over the past few years, the partnership between local
government and the local Police has grown, particularly in the field
of road safety. Road Safety Officers (RSOs) have strengthened their
partnership with the local Police to form a road safety team, which
addresses all road safety issues on the Central Coast.
Experience and research
shows that education can enhance the credibility of enforcement
activity, by improving the understanding of its needs and purpose.
Enforcement initiatives and local government road safety initiatives
focus on similar issues. These similar issues being speed, alcohol,
seatbelts and helmet wearing.
The Central Coast RSOs
have adopted a consultative approach when collaborating with the
local Police. This paper will explore some of the challenges that
we have experienced in implementing and maintaining the commitment,
from both local government and the Police (Highway Patrol).
We believe that the Central
Coast has developed a model for strengthening partnerships. The
key factor in strengthening this partnership has been the support
from the Local Area Commands - Commanders (Brisbane Water and Tuggerah
Lakes) and the North Metropolitan Police Region. This has greatly
benefited the day to day relationship between the Police Officers
and the RSOs. Regular communication is another key factor in maintaining
a successful working team environment, along with having a healthy
respect for the other party's work agenda and responsibilities,
which may lie outside road safety.
This paper will demonstrate
how effective communication between RSOs and the Police can produce
a broad, well-rounded and successful road safety plan, with the
plan then progressing to successful road safety programs.
There is unlimited potential
for a collaborative working team and this paper will report on the
success that can be achieved when people with vision and initiative
are empowered to do whatever it takes to make it happen.
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