New SA senator urges road safety rethink

SYDNEY (AAP) - Aug. 17 - Australia must cut its road toll to end the sickening human cost of car crashes, a South Australian senator says.
Former union heavyweight Alex Gallacher delivered his first speech to the Senate on Wednesday calling for a road safety rethink.
"Our great country's prosperity is reflected in our love affair with the motor vehicle," he said.
"But the freedom and mobility achieved by owning a car is tempered with the sickening human and economic cost of vehicle accidents."
Saving 1291 lives and reducing 32,000 injuries across Australia is a challenge we should accept, Senator Gallacher said.
He said Australia should look to Sweden's model of "vision zero", which accepts that an effective road safety system "must always take human fallibility into account".
Senator Gallacher, the former Transport Workers Union state secretary in SA, said he was concerned about the importation of cheap cars with lower safety features than in Australian-made vehicles.
"These vehicles marketed on price alone will have a negative effect on any improvements in deaths and serious injury if they become popular amongst our vulnerable road users," he said.
The former truckie was born in New Cumnock, Scotland, in 1954 and arrived in Australia in 1966.
"My father like so many migrants came to Australia seeking a better chance for himself and family," he said.
Senator Gallacher said his late parents would have been proud of his achievements.
"However, my Aunty Doris and Aunty Mattie put a little Scottish perspective on hearing the news with stern advice along the lines of `Don't get a big head or too big for your boots'."