Iain Cameron PSM has dedicated his lifetime to a singular mission: reducing road fatalities in Western Australia to zero. His profound expertise in policy and remarkable collaborative skills have played a significant role in the extraordinary progress achieved in this endeavour. Speaking to The Mandarin, the former educator turned public servant described his career as a long and fulfilling journey.
He emphasized that achieving gains in road safety has been anything but easy or quick, as it often involves persuading the entire community to change their behaviour and mindset, which can be a formidable challenge due to strongly entrenched views.
As the Road Safety Council chair, Cameron spearheaded a multi-decadal strategy in WA aimed at improving road safety, with the ambitious goal of reaching zero fatalities and severe injuries by 2050.
The effectiveness of the Towards Zero 2008-2020 WA strategy is evident, with a remarkable 43% reduction in road deaths over 12 years. From 2000 to 2013, fatalities on WA’s roads decreased from 11.3% per 100,000 population to 6.4%, surpassing the target of saving at least 11,000 lives from road accidents.
Cameron highlighted that young driver crashes saw a 60% reduction, exceeding the overall state improvement of 40%. This success underscores the positive impact of measures such as graduated licensing, nighttime restrictions, reduced demerits, and safer vehicles. However, Cameron pointed out that experienced drivers in their 30s, 40s, and 50s were involved in more frequent crashes, often not due to intentional law-breaking.
Surprisingly, three out of four crashes resulting in death or injury occurred in situations where no one was speeding, and seatbelts were worn. Cameron emphasized the need for a shift in mindset, acknowledging that while campaigns against drinking and driving have been successful, road safety efforts must continue evolving.
His exceptional contributions to road safety were recognized with a Public Service Medal (PSM) in the 2024 Australia Day honours. Cameron’s commitment to road safety extends beyond Western Australia, as he actively shares knowledge with other jurisdictions. He has held roles such as chair and trustee of the Towards Zero Foundation (UK), Australasian New Car Assessment Program independent director, and Austroads National Road Safety Task Force chair.
In 2014, he received a Fellow of the Australian College of Road Safety award and chaired the OECD’s International Transport Forum Working Group in 2016, leading a Zero Road Deaths study. This study outlined a ‘safe system’ approach, emphasizing that crashes on roads are predictable and preventable, with ‘zero death’ targets being achievable.
Cameron’s work has highlighted the need to view road safety as a public health issue, and he noted that innocent mistakes by ordinary, law-abiding individuals pose the greatest threat. Sweden’s Vision Zero and the Netherlands’ Sustainable Safety strategies exemplify this shift in policy mindset and are considered among the world’s most effective road safety strategies. Back in Australia, Cameron has been involved in extensive interventions and education to influence road safety. With fewer taxpayers per kilometre of road, Australia has focused on behaviour change interventions as an effective way to address road safety issues.
Looking ahead, Cameron believes that acknowledging the potential for anyone to make a mistake at any time is crucial. This perspective will drive progress in areas such as speed management and vehicle safety features. In June 2022, Cameron played a role in putting road safety on the agenda for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Rwanda, where a commitment was made to reduce road trauma by 50% by 2030 in Commonwealth countries, recognizing that 60% of the population in these nations is aged under 30.
Cameron’s dedication stems from the fact that traffic fatalities claim more lives than diseases like malaria or tuberculosis, making road safety a pressing global issue. He firmly believes that change is possible and that complacency and acceptance of road trauma can be overcome through concerted efforts.
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