Social & Community Impact Report 2022/2023
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RAC Social & Community Impact Report 2022/23
Contents Highlights
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A message from our President and Group CEO
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Our approach to social and community impact
8
Our organisation
14
118 years of social and community impact
18
Our impact areas
22
Safe activities and initiatives
28
Sustainable activities and initiatives
40
Connected activities and initiatives
53
Being involved
66
Our people
74
Our future
83
Our performance
85
Acknowledgement of Country RAC acknowledges the Aboriginal peoples of Western Australia as the Traditional Custodians of the lands on which RAC has been operating for more than 118 years. We are privileged to share their lands, throughout Western Australia. Boorloo (Perth) is where RAC Headquarters is based, the place where we work with and alongside Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families and communities. RAC honours and pays respect to Aboriginal Elders, past and present across the lands of Western Australia.
On the cover: Residents of the Inglewood on Beaufort Town Team Inside cover: Waart Koorling (On the Move...) by Wendy Hayden and Joanna Robertson.
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Highlights We launched the RAC Air Health Monitor to provide air quality data to the Perth community about the air they breathe and the impact of vehicle emissions on their daily lives
We reached over
61,000 students through our road safety education programs We supported the delivery of eight E-Scooter Essentials safety workshops in partnership with Neuron Mobility
The RAC Electric Highway® had
1,447 18,820 participants attended our Tow Safe caravan safety sessions
We provided
$780k
to partner with local governments on 10 revitalisation projects through Reconnect WA
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RAC Social & Community Impact Report 2022/23
charges, approximately 51 charges on average per day
Our Connecting Communities Fund provided
$122k
to metropolitan and regional Town Teams
We celebrated
20 years of sponsorship of the RAC Rescue Helicopters, WA’s only 24/7 emergency helicopter rescue service
Over
$200k*
value contributed to the WA community through our Community Volunteering Program
Driving change for a better WA
We concluded the RAC Intellibus® trial, Australia’s first and longest running driverless vehicle trial on public roads
We launched our EV for a Week trial, enabling 50 of our members to experience driving an electric vehicle We unveiled our refurbished head office, Koorlup, in West Perth - providing a more dynamic and member centred experience
We piloted four youth-led community projects to enable young people to design and lead positive change in their communities *Dollar figure is calculated using the Volunteering WA value of volunteering for ‘all ages’
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Rob Slocombe (left) and Allan Blagaich (right)
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RAC Social & Community Impact Report 2022/23
A message from our President & Group CEO Every day, RAC is working with the community to make WA a better place. Our Vision — for a safer, sustainable and connected future for Western Australians — is driving all that we do. Our 2023 Social and Community Impact Report outlines our progress towards achieving this ambition, and over the past year we have taken big strides. Our strong, ongoing advocacy for safer regional roads has now seen more than $1 billion in funding committed by the WA and Australian Governments toward the WA Regional Road Safety Program. Our school education program saw road safety lessons and events reach over 61,000 students. The RAC Rescue helicopters*, which we have proudly sponsored for over 20 years, have completed more than 9,500 missions in total, and in 2022/23 flew more than 133,000 kilometres. We continued to support local councils and community groups. Our Reconnect WA initiative has now seen almost $3 million provided to support local government projects while the RAC Connecting Communities Fund has provided a further $350,000 to support Town Teams across the State. A major highlight for the year was the launch of the RAC Air Health Monitor, a first of its kind, interactive map showing hour-by-hour changes to Perth’s air quality.
By making the invisible visible, the RAC Air Health Monitor will help us work toward stronger policies, increased investment, and individual behavioural change that reduces harmful vehicle emissions. This is just a small snapshot of our impact initiatives in 2022/23. You will discover much more in the pages ahead. You will also see that our focus on meaningful measurement has continued, with this report detailing progress against our Social Impact Metric. Our ability to make an impact is strongly linked to those who partner with us. It’s only through collaboration — with local communities, our industry and not-for-profit partners, and all levels of government — that we can continue to inspire positive change. Ultimately though, it is the more than 1.2 million RAC members that make this work possible. Thank you to every member of RAC for your ongoing support. RAC will continue to be a champion for our members, to advocate for changes that drive our communities forward, and to play our own part in creating an even better WA.
Allan Blagaich
Rob Slocombe
President
Group Chief Executive Officer
*Sponsored by RAC, funded by the State Government and managed by the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) the two RAC Rescue helicopters provide vital search and rescue and critical care medical services to the WA community.
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Our approach to social and community impact RAC is a purpose-led member organisation. With no shareholders, we reinvest our profits for the benefit of our members and to create a better WA. Our approach to social and community impact seeks to align with, and contribute towards, our organisationwide Purpose, Vision and Mission. Tracking and reporting our progress on this journey is important to us. It will help us make better decisions and maximise our impact. This, our third annual Social and Community Impact Report, sets out how we’re progressing towards our Vision. It also showcases some of the impactful activities and initiatives we’ve delivered (with a focus on 2022/2023 – referred to as FY23 or this year) to drive positive outcomes.
Our Purpose, Vision and Mission We exist to be the driving force for a better WA – this is our Purpose, our ‘why’. This is enacted through our Vision. Our Vision is for a safer, sustainable and connected future for Western Australians. This is what we stand for, and what we will act on. We’re committed to continuously improving our services and experiences for our members and championing change that will lead to safer, more sustainable and better-connected communities. The principles of social impact and member value are at the heart of RAC. Our Purpose, Vision and Mission not only guides our social and community impact focus, it also sits at the top of the overall strategy for the organisation.
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Purpose
Vision
Mission
The driving force for a better WA.
2030: A safer, sustainable and connected future for Western Australians.
Delivering great member services and experiences, while inspiring positive community change, that makes life better in WA.
RAC Social & Community Impact Report 2022/23
People safely crossing the road in the Shire of Beverley
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People enjoying community spaces in Inglewood
Our Vision 2030: what we want to achieve A safe, sustainable and connected future. We have set our desired end states, or what we aspire for the future to look and feel like…
Safe Safer mobility is vital to the wellbeing of Western Australians. Think safer roads, speeds, vehicles and people to save lives and reduce serious injuries. » Western Australians feel safe utilising all modes of transport. » The rate of road deaths and serious injuries in Western Australia is approaching zero. » Western Australia has safe transport infrastructure. » New vehicle technology and safety assurance frameworks are protecting occupants and other road users from crashes. » Road users are taking responsibility for themselves and other road users. » Road safety is a social, health and economic priority for Western Australia. » Appropriate speed limits have been implemented and are increasing human survival rates in the event of a crash.
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Sustainable Sustainable mobility meets the social, environmental and economic needs of current and future generations. Think low emission vehicles and initiatives for cleaner, healthier air. » Harmful emissions (CO2, NOx, particulates) from passenger vehicles are reduced in line with international benchmarks. » Proactive initiatives have been implemented to improve air quality. » Low emission vehicles are widely available, affordable and a popular choice. » Infrastructure supporting alternative vehicle technology is broadly accessible. » Western Australians better understand and are able to reduce the life-cycle impacts of owning or operating vehicles. » A range of fair and effective funding options have delivered a high-quality transport system.
Connected Connected mobility supports vibrant and liveable communities. Think wellplanned communities and transport that connect people and places. » Good urban design and well-planned communities are enabling better access to transport options and enhanced social connectedness. » People are seamlessly connected by a flexible range of private, public and shared transport options (e.g. public transport, cycling, walking, car, motorcycling, personal transporters, aviation), infrastructure, services and technology. » Congestion has been managed to protect the livability and productivity of the State. » The benefits of digitisation are realised and enhance mobility while protecting personal privacy and data. » Transport is affordable and accessible.
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How we measure our impact Our Social Impact Framework
This includes a series of indicators, measures and targets, reflecting the following factors in WA:
To guide our social and community impact activities to 2030, we have a Social Impact Framework which keeps us focused on the issues that matter most to achieving our Vision.
» Road fatality and serious injury rates per 100,000 persons; » CO2 and NOx emissions per kilometre travelled by car;
Launched in 2020, our Social Impact Framework guides and helps us measure and report on our progress to 2030:
» Vehicle kilometres travelled per person;
» Visualising our future – our Vision end states provide the strategic direction around where we want to get to for each of our three impact areas of Safe, Sustainable and Connected.
» Costs associated with private motoring and public transport.
» Extent to which people feel connected to and within their community; and
Together, these will help us make good decisions as we progress, ensuring a smooth and successful journey to Vision 2030.
» Monitoring our influence – the Social Impact Metric helps us understand, react, and respond to what’s happening in the changing external environment and track progress around the things we’re trying to impact. » Measuring our actions – we have a tool to help us better capture and align the social and community impact activities and initiatives we’re delivering across the organisation with our Vision, and report on the impacts. This helps us to realise the full potential of the organisation to drive positive outcomes towards achievement of our Purpose and Vision.
Measuring our Social and Community Impact:
Towards zero KSI
50% reduction in serious injury rate
50% reduction in fatality rate
% change in cost of public transport at/below CPI % change in cost of motoring at/below CPI
Safer speeds
Safer roads
Safer road users Safe
EV charging networks
Seamless transport options
transport
Pillars
Well planned communities 5% reduction in vehicle kms travelled
Key themes
Measured metrics
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Fair road pricing system
Low/Zero emission vehicles
5% change in feeling connected
15% reduction in NOx/km
Community awareness
Sustainable
Connected
Managed congestion
Towards better connected people and places
Safer vehicles
20% reduction in CO2/km
Towards cleaner, healthier air
United Nations Sustainable Development Goals We seek to embed these across our operational and social and community impact activities to ensure the sustainability of our organisation, members, and the WA community. Our Purpose, Vision and Mission, which guide our activities, currently align with the intent of 11 of the 17 SDGs. Over the period to 2030, we’ll strive to continue to make a positive difference and deliver enhanced outcomes that align to the SDGs.
Operational
Connected
Sustainable
Safe
We support the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which were adopted by all UN Member States including Australia as a founding member. The SDGs are the blueprint to tackle the biggest challenges the world is facing, to achieve a better and more sustainable future for everyone on Earth. They are a global call to act to protect our planet together and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity.
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RAC Roadside Assistance
Our organisation Making an impact in our community has always been an important part of who we are and what we do. We’ve advocated change and acted to develop and deliver many innovative and meaningful initiatives to drive positive outcomes for our members and the WA community. Our Club’s 118-year history is deeply connected to the growth and development of WA as a state and community. In 1905, cars were a new and unusual sight on the streets. There was little in the way of garages or petrol pumps, and very few people knew how to change a tyre. Our early members had a strong sense of civic duty and wanted to change this.
Today, we continue to be the voice of our members – which is over 1.2 million Western Australians. We’ve evolved into one of the most trusted and recognised organisations in WA and a leading mobility advocate. We're proud of the work we've done to improve road safety, but there is always more to do. Any life lost or serious injury caused on our roads is one too many.
So, in 1905 a group of motoring enthusiasts started the ‘Automobile Club of Western Australia’ so they could work together to keep members safe and advance motoring in WA. Early Club members installed the state’s first signposts and produced its first roadmaps, and by the 1920s were campaigning to preserve the giant Karri trees in the South West. They continually lobbied for better roads and greater protection for road users.
Times really have changed. Although one thing remains the same – RAC is still working for the better of WA.
All of this work benefited the entire community.
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RAC Walk of Fame RAC’s Walk of Fame can be found on the Wellington Street entry of our West Perth Koorlup building. Created in 2005, to celebrate RAC’s 100-year anniversary, the Walk of Fame recognises the achievements of some of the most influential figures in WA’s motoring and road safety history, including WA’s first motorist, the first woman to drive around Australia, and the man who made WA’s first road maps.
Dr Rao also established the Prevent Alcohol and Riskrelated Trauma in Youth (PARTY) program at Royal Perth Hospital. Once a week PARTY brings a group of young adults (aged between 14 and 18) to the hospital to learn about trauma. Touring the Emergency Department, Intensive Care Unit and Trauma ward, students also meet an injury survivor to hear about the life changing impact of their accident.
We are immensely proud to have added Dr Sudhakar Rao to the RAC Walk of Fame this year. Dr Rao is a renowned trauma surgeon and has spent his career caring for those with complex and critical injuries. Having been the State Director of Trauma Services in WA based at Royal Perth Hospital, he has helped thousands of West Australians and has lent his skills internationally.
The RAC Rescue helicopters also work closely with Dr Rao as he trains the critical care paramedics that the RAC sponsorship of the service helps to provide (find out more about the RAC Rescue helicopter service on page 36).
His work hasn’t been limited to the operating theatre or in the field. Having seen first-hand the devastating effects of trauma injuries, Dr Rao has worked tirelessly to educate Western Australians on how to prevent situations where those injuries may occur. Joining us annually as one of our RAC bstreetsmart narrators, Dr Rao talks to the student attendees about the reality of a traumatic road injury (you can read more about RAC bstreetsmart on page 34).
Whether he is working with young people, treating patients in the operating theatre, training paramedics, or calling on government for legislation change, Dr Rao’s efforts have had life-changing consequences for thousands of West Australians. Our vision for a safer WA, by reducing the number of people killed or seriously injured on our roads, needs people like Dr Rao.
Dr Sudhakar Rao presenting at RAC bstreetsmart
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Did you know? The cheque writer, created in the United Kingdom by Halsby and Co Ltd dates from the early 1900s. The machine has seen some wear and tear but is now being preserved in RAC’s heritage collection. The item, although looking like it was able to go with RAC Patrols in their vans, was used in the office only.
In reinvesting our profits, our member benefits program provides members access to great benefits, like discounts with over 100 retail partners and on RAC products and services. This year, members saved $79.8 million in direct benefits, including everyday savings on fuel, gas for their homes, travel, pharmacy, entertainment, shopping and more.
We act and influence, for a better WA We undertake a range of social and community impact activities and initiatives to drive positive outcomes, which will move us towards our Vision 2030 end states and achievement of our Social Impact Metric. These activities include:
Example of a large sign which would have been placed in car parks, so that members could meet the RAC Patrol at a definitive spot and then direct the patrol to where the car was located. Others were to convey RAC contractor services.
» Undertaking research, developing evidence-based policy, and making submissions to government to influence priorities and investments; » Delivering collaborative demonstration trials and initiatives to highlight key issues, showcase what can be achieved and help plan for the future; » Running campaigns, engagement and education activities to enhance understanding, inspire and empower action; » Supporting major and community-focused sponsorship programs; » Engaging with all sides and levels of government, and the media, to draw attention to the key issues and hold government accountable; and » Ensuring RAC people are involved in delivering social and community impact through volunteering and other initiatives.
The flag that once flew above RAC’s 228 Adelaide Terrace office.
To donate an item to our heritage collection or to find out more about RAC's history email us at heritage@rac.com.au.
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RAC members enjoying member benefits discounts at RAC Arena
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118 years of social and community impact
Perth's Swan River and the Narrows Bridge
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Here are some of our milestone moments:
1905
Club formation
1911
Australian Automobile Association created ANCAP to test and rate vehicle safety
2002
began offsetting our vehicle fleet emissions
1920
campaigned to preserve the giant Karri trees of southern WA
1909
erected directional signs across WA
2013
1993
developed the first road map
1940
1946
2003
initiated the National Safety Council of WA to promote road safety
pushed to ensure highway lines were mandatory and that it was illegal to not stop at a stop sign
began sponsoring the Perth-based RAC Rescue helicopter
1988
lobbied for roadside Random Breath Testing in line with other states
1965 to 1973
campaigned for seatbelts and child restraints to be mandated
2012
started bstreetsmart
2012
made our safer cars commitment
2012
focused on inattention with world first Attention Powered Car and rated the safety of 4,671 km of WA’s National Highway Network
2013
commenced reviews of motorist taxation to get a fairer share for WA
introduced the Less Emissions Mission rewarding members with lower emission vehicles
2008
created the Risky Roads survey to give the community a voice
2014
undertook a landmark trial to help make our traffic signals ‘smarter’
2022
2016
started Australia’s first and longest running automated vehicle trial with the RAC Intellibus®
launched the RAC Air Health Monitor, the most comprehensive air quality sensor network in Australia
2018
launched the Impact Protection Vehicles to protect our people and members at breakdowns
2016
started calling for CO2 emissions standards for new light vehicles
2018
highlighted required lighting upgrades on Perth’s popular cycling paths
2015
took electric bikes for a spin with the RAC eBike trials
2015
built Australia’s first Electric Highway®
2015
launched our Elephant in the Wheatbelt campaign, Little Legends Club and Road Ready program to educate on road safety issues
2022
2019
partnered with South West local governments to start planning safer speed trials
commenced advocacy for the Regional Road Safety Program
2022
provided our members with the opportunity to trial an EV for a week
2020 began our Tow Safe events to better prepare travellers on WA roads.
2020 launched Reconnect WA to revitalise streets and spaces for community activity
In 2020 we achieved our vision of becoming WA’s most valued organisation, and launched our new Purpose, Vision and Mission for 2030.
Safe Sustainable Connected For more information on these and other milestone moments, visit: rac.com.au/about-rac/our-history
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This year, our Mobile Technicians and Auto Service Centres collectively saved the following from going to landfill:
100,204 batteries, at a 96.1% recycling rate
17,141
tyres, achieving a 100% recycling rate
47.49
tonnes of scrap metal
RAC Patrol testing a member's car battery
RAC’s Carbon Footprint project We accept our responsibility to help protect the natural environment and mitigate the impacts of climate change. In line with our Vision 2030, our organisation and our people strive for continuous improvement in making our operations more sustainable and reducing our impact on the environment. We have a strong track record in influencing, educating and informing our members on ways they can contribute to a more sustainable future, while ensuring our members have access to a range of sustainable mobility options. This year, the main focus areas for our Carbon Footprint project have included: » Energy efficiency » Sustainable transport » Local generation of renewable energy » Management of waste and operation efficiencies to reduce inputs
Did you know? We have been offsetting carbon emissions from our vehicle fleet for more than 20 years. Simply put, carbon offsetting is like a trade or way of compensating for the emissions produced by day-to-day operations that can’t be prevented. Offsets (in the form of Australian Carbon Credit Units) can be bought from projects that reduce, remove or capture emissions from the atmosphere such as reforestation, renewable energy, or energy efficiency projects. Between 2007 (when our records formally started) and 2012, we worked with Alterra (formerly Carbon Conscious) to offset through reforestation and tree planting in the South West agricultural regions of WA. Since 2013, we’ve worked with Carbon Neutral Charitable Fund to offset through the Yarra Yarra Biodiversity Corridor project and other WA based biodiversity projects.
15,928 20 RAC Social & Community Impact Report 2022/23
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tonnes of CO2 have been offset from June 2007 to January 2023
Some of the things we’re doing to reduce our environmental impact include: Spotlight on RAC Parks and Resorts The new RAC Ningaloo Reef resort will be completely electrified with induction technology used in the commercial kitchen and heat pumps installed for hot water supply throughout the property. At our Esperance Holiday Park, due to the local reticulated natural gas network in Esperance being shut down, we took the opportunity to bring forward the intended electrification of the Esperance property - with all cabins and accommodation moved to all electric appliances. This was done by making use of incentives made available via Horizon Power.
Spotlight on RAC Electric Vehicle (EV) Car Share This year, we launched the RAC EV Car Share Project supported by local startup Mojo Car Share. We wanted to provide a carpool solution that supports our Sustainable pillar to staff at our West Perth Koorlup building. Since launching in November 2022, 126 RAC people have registered to book the staff EV. Over 300 bookings have travelled 8,396 zero tailpipe emissions kilometres. The EV was also made available for key stakeholders including academia to provide an opportunity to experience a full EV. We also launched our EV for a Week Member Trial, which provided 50 RAC members with the opportunity to drive an EV for a week and document their experience. You can read more about this in the case study on page 46 of this report.
Spotlight on Information Technology (IT) asset recycling and disposal According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics in 201617, Australia and New Zealand produced over 550,000 tonnes of e-waste with over 54% entering landfill. In WA, of the 70,000 tonnes of e-waste generated, only 27% is being disposed of responsibly. Through utilising Renew IT’s services and remarketing network, we’ve been able to prevent approximately 1,300 kilograms of e-waste entering landfills. We’ve been able to repurpose 92% of our downstream waste through Renew IT’s re-use services, providing accessible IT hardware to citizens across the world. With only 8% of our hardware deemed not fit for re-use, this was ethically recycled using Renew IT’s vetted and sustainable downstream solution. Based on current analysis tools available, Renew IT report that we have prevented approximately 3,106.16 kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalent from entering Australian landfills this year.
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Our impact areas We are focused on driving positive impact in our three key areas: » Safe: Reduce the rate that people are killed or seriously injured on our roads. » Sustainable: Reduce harmful vehicle emissions for cleaner, healthier air. » Connected: Ensure well-planned communities and transport that better connect people and places.
Safe Far too many people are being killed and seriously injured on our roads. WA was once a leader but progress over the past decade has been far too slow. We now find ourselves amongst the worst in the country. As a result, individuals, families and communities continue to be devastated by the often life-long impacts of road trauma.
Our challenge » Preventable road trauma is one of the most common reasons for injury-related hospital admissions in WA1. » Over the five years to the end of 2022, 819 people were killed on WA roads and another 8,235 people were seriously injured2. » In 2022 alone, 175 people lost their lives on our roads and almost two thirds of these (120 deaths) occurred on regional roads, despite only 21 per cent of the population living in our regions3. » Over two thirds of all fatal and serious injury crashes in our regions are run-off-road or head on crashes – many of these deaths and serious injuries could be prevented through low-cost safety treatments. » In Perth, on average over half of the crashes where someone dies or is seriously injured happen at one of its more than 51,000 intersections4.
Did you know? All Australian jurisdictions except for WA and Northern Territory (NT) have default speed limits of 100km/h outside of built-up areas. WA and NT have a default speed limit of 110km/h outside of built-up areas and are also the poorest performers in road safety in Australia. The most common crash type on regional roads is a single vehicle leaving the road, generally at high speed6. Reducing posted speed limits is a cost-effective way to reduce road trauma and one that would reduce the likelihood of life-threatening crashes, including run-off road crashes7,8,9. Reducing speed limits from 110km/h to 100km/h would add no more than 5 minutes to a 100km journey, but can be expected to result in a 20 per cent decrease in fatalities and serious injuries10.
Road deaths per 100,000 people in 20223
» In 2022, 79 people were killed on WA roads with a 110km/h speed limit, representing over two thirds of all fatalities – many of these roads have not been designed to support safe travel at such speed. » The personal and social impacts of road trauma are immense and far reaching. The economic cost of road trauma in WA is estimated to be $2.4 billion per annum5. We need a real change, and we need it now. No one should have to suffer the devastating impact of road trauma. We do not want to look back in five or ten-years’ time and think about all the lives that could have been saved if only more had been done.
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18.7
10.6
2.2 Metropolitan Australia
2.8 Metropolitan WA
Regional Australia
Regional WA
In WA
3
people are killed and more than 30 hospitalised every week due to road trauma
Motor vehicle occupant % change in probability of being killed or seriously injured in a crash (compared with a 60km/h speed limit) 100% 80%
75%
50%
0%
0% -33%
13%
13%
26%
24%
40%
37%
-32%
-50%
-100% 60
80-90
100
110
Speed limit (km/h) Serious injury
Fatality
Did you know? » Crashes on 110km/h roads are linked to an 80% greater probability of a motorist fatality compared with a 60km/h road. » Crashes on <50km/h roads are linked to a 33% decreased probability of a motorist fatality compared with a 60km/h road. Source: Centre for Accident Research and Road Safety – Queensland (2022)
Pedestrians safely crossing the road
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Sustainable During fuel combustion, petrol and diesel fuelled vehicles emit a range of airborne pollutants and greenhouse gases – like oxides of nitrogen (NOx), carbon dioxide (CO2), particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10), hydrocarbons (including methane, benzene, toluene, xylene, and benzo[a]pyrene), carbon monoxide (CO), oxides of sulfur (SOx), and ozone (O3) – which are harmful to our health and the environment.
Electric vehicles (EVs) in Australia In 2022, EV20 sales represented only 5.1 per cent of new vehicle sales in Australia, and while this is a sizeable increase of over 180 per cent from the previous year, it still lags far behind global leaders such as Norway (88 per cent); Iceland (70 per cent); and Sweden (54 per cent). When compared to other right-hand drive markets, Australia still falls behind the United Kingdom (23 per cent) and New Zealand (13 per cent). The global sales share of EVs as a proportion of new vehicle sales was 14 per cent, with markets such as China and Europe seeing sales shares of 29 per cent and 21 per cent respectively. Coordinated and sustained policy and investment is needed here in Australia and will help the EV market transition through its emergent stages into a wellestablished marketplace.
Our challenge » In Australia, in 2021, transport made up over 19 per cent of national carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2-e) emissions. Road transport contributed to over 87 per cent of transport emissions, with 51 per cent of road transport emissions coming from cars alone11. » In 2021, per person, Australia’s CO2 emissions were almost double the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) average12. » Between the years 1991 and 2021, the percentage increase in CO2-e emissions from road transport in WA was almost double that of Australia's13. » In 2020, Australia recorded the highest total NOx emissions per capita – over 115 kilograms – of all OECD countries; this is over three and a half times New Zealand’s NOx emissions per capita, almost six and a half times the OECD figure, and almost ten times the OECD Europe average14. » As at June 2023, Australia’s gasoline fuel quality was ranked 94th in the world, down from 89th in 2022. Currently Australia’s fuel ranks worse than Argentina (93rd), Bosnia & Herzegovina (92nd), and Seychelles (91st)15. » Uptake of low and zero emission vehicles like EVs, hybrid vehicles and plug-in hybrid vehicles is low in Western Australia, with these vehicles representing 10.76 per cent of new light vehicle sales in 2022 (with full EVs making up 3.04 per cent)16. However, it seems Western Australians are moving to embrace the shift to lower emission vehicles17, as new sales in 2022 increased by 48.51 per cent from 202118. A total of 11,163 electric vehicles were registered in WA as of 30 June 2023 (this includes 10,062 battery EVs, 1,085 plug-in hybrid EVs, and 16 fuel-cell EVs), which represents a 138% increase from June 202219. » The way we pay for our transport systems needs reforming, particularly due to the expected decline in fuel excise resulting from EV uptake. Rather than pursuing holistic reform to road user charging to ensure a sustainable and efficient funding model, some states including WA are planning to introduce EV taxes which would further exacerbate the largest barrier to uptake – cost.
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WA electricity generation sources29
How healthy is our air?
On average in 2021:
Air pollution occurs when the air contains substances that impact and cause harm to humans, animals and the environment21. Air pollutants can contain a mixture of tiny particles, liquids or gases. Extracting and burning fossil fuels (oil, gas, and coal) is a major source of greenhouse gases and air pollution22.
21.7% 57.6% 5.3% 15.4%
Anyone can be affected by air pollution, especially when exposed over prolonged periods of time. Children, pregnant women and unborn babies, the elderly, and people with pre-existing respiratory (such as asthma and lung disease) and pulmonary conditions (such as heart disease) are especially affected by air pollution23.
coal
gas
oil
renewables
Compared to 2022:
18.4% 60% 4.9% 16.7% coal
Research suggests that human activities, principally through emissions of greenhouse gases, have unequivocally caused global warming24. Air quality is impacted by both air pollution and greenhouse gases such as CO226 so to improve air quality, we need to both reduce air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. In major cities across Australia, one of the main sources of air pollution is from motor vehicle emissions, caused by diesel and petroleum combustion26. Australia has national standards for six criteria air pollutants in outdoor air27. These pollutants are CO, lead, NO2, O3, particulate matter, and SO2. By world standards, Perth experiences good air quality, like much of Australia. However, there are times when our air quality exceeds the World Health Organisation recommendations. New modelling based on a New Zealand study released by climate researchers estimates more than 11,000 Australian adults die prematurely each year due to exposure from the emissions created by traffic28.
gas
oil
renewables
In WA, Western Power's South West Interconnected System (SWIS) provides power to the most populated areas - around 1.1 million homes and businesses between Kalbarri, Kalgoorlie and Albany. The SWIS has traditionally relied on fossil fuels as the main energy source but in recent years wind, solar, and other renewable energy sources have begun to challenge the dominance of coal and gas. WA experienced:
276
days
where the combination of wind and solar in the SWIS generated more electricity than coal in FY23 (compared to 184 days in FY22)30. Renewables accounted for over:
33%
of total generation in the SWIS during FY23
However, WA lags behind most of the nation in renewable energy generation:
98% 71% 37% 32% 22% 6% TAS
SA
VIC
NSW
QLD
NT
This year the State Government announced that before the end of 2023 it will introduce climate change legislation to establish a framework for emissions reductions to meet net zero by 2050 and formalise its aim to reduce Government emissions by 80 per cent below 2020 levels by 2030. The legislation will create statutory requirements for the State Government to develop strategies and set interim emission reduction targets, and require the Minister for Climate Action to report annually to Parliament on WA's net emissions and progress.
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Connected How our cities, towns and neighbourhoods are planned, designed and managed influences many aspects of our lives. Like where we live, work, and socialise, and how we move around. How physically and socially connected we feel to the people and places that matter to us has a powerful impact on our quality of life and overall wellbeing. Communities are strongest when they feel connected. Our state is vast, and our population will continue to grow. While this brings many benefits, it also creates significant challenges in accommodating growth, catering for the increasing demands on our transport system and enhancing access to employment, education and other essential services and amenities. All without losing the things that make our local areas great places to live.
Affordable mobility » Perth households spend around 14.5 per cent of their income on transport, which equates to almost $21,500 per year. Bunbury households spend 15 percent, representing almost $20,500 per year31. » The cost of living is rapidly increasing and transport even more so, with the Australian Bureau of Statistics reporting far greater increases in the transport component of the consumer price index relative to all groups (e.g. 13 vs 6 per cent) for quarterly releases between June 2021 and June 202232. » Motor vehicle registration fees have increased by almost 70 per cent in the past 10 years – around three times the rate of inflation33. These fees were increased again by 3.9 per cent in the most recent State Budget. » A single car household would have saved more than $1,100 over the past decade if registration fees had increased at the rate of inflation and more could have been saved had fee increases been kept below inflation. » In the last five years the typical Perth household has paid nearly $15,500 for public transport. This is more than $4,000 more than the average figure within Australian capital cities31.
Our challenge » The greater Perth population is forecast to grow by approximately 30 per cent, to just over 2.6 million by 2031. This will place significant additional burden on the transport network, with over 7 million daily trips forecast and modelling indicating that the annualised cost of road congestion will more than double from $1.5 billion in 2016 to $3.6 billion in 2031. Alongside growing road congestion, the annualised cost of public transport crowding is also expected to increase almost tenfold, from $17 million in 2016 to $159 million in 203134. » Mode shift from private vehicles to active and public transport remains limited, with an estimated 4.2 million private car trips made each day in Perth and 2.8 million of these trips being under 5km35. Most people can cycle 5km in about 20 minutes36, so these shorter vehicle trips are the most easily replaced by cycling or eRideables. » About one thirdof Perth’s strategic activity centres37, including several within Perth’s inner area, currently exhibit low accessibility by public transport38, increasing the importance of active transport connections. » Dissatisfaction with existing active transport infrastructure is high and fear of sharing the roads with motorists is a main reason for not cycling more often – Western Australians want more investment in on and off-road walking and cycling infrastructure39. » Currently, insufficient priority and support is given to the reallocation of road space for active (and public) transport, critical gaps remain in the cycle network40, and there is a need to maintain existing infrastructure41 to enhance amenity and safety. The Long-Term Cycle Network for Perth and Peel, identifies more than 5,500km of primary, secondary, and local routes across Perth and Peel, with approximately 38 per cent of the network currently existing42.
8 in 10
members say it is very or extremely important for the government to take action to ensure public transport is affordable, more convenient and reliable.
7 in 10
want government to take action to keep motoring costs down.
RAC Member Priorities Tracker, February 2023 (n=530).
26 RAC Social & Community Impact Report 2022/23
Vehicle traffic in the Perth CBD
27
Safe activities and initiatives No matter how we choose to move around, we should be safe in doing so. All of us have a responsibility to ensure our roads and transport system are safe for everyone. To improve safety, we need to take a Safe System approach. That is, safe road users, safe vehicles, safe roads and roadsides, safe speeds and post-crash response. The Safe System recognises that everyone makes mistakes, and the human body is fragile. It seeks to prevent crashes from occurring and to lessen the severity of injuries if a crash does occur. We seek to align our social and community impact activities and initiatives with the Safe System approach. This year, to help drive positive outcomes, we’ve progressed a range of activities and initiatives with our members, the community, government and/or others. This has included things like representing road users on the Road Safety Council and other government working groups, advocating for key policy and infrastructure priorities, delivering campaigns, roadsafety related sponsorship and doing other impactful initiatives like those showcased in this report.
Influencing Our top priority – the Regional Road Safety Program Since 2019, we’ve been calling on the State and Federal governments to fully fund a landmark State Government proposal to deliver low-cost safety treatments across thousands of kilometres of the State’s regional road network. These roads connect nearly every regional town and community in WA. Treatments include sealing shoulders, installing audible edgelines, medians and/or centrelines to address run-off-road and head on crashes. Modelling by Main Roads WA estimated the program would: » Prevent more than 2,100 people from being killed or seriously injured » Reduce regional road trauma by up to 60 per cent » Return more than $4 for every $1 spent » Create thousands of jobs and training opportunities To secure accelerated funding, we have continued to make the program the key focus of our State and Federal budget submissions each year, and we’ve been undertaking a range of government and stakeholder relations activities. We welcomed this year’s State Budget allocation of an additional $175 million for the WA Regional Road Safety Program, bringing total funding to over $1 billion. As of June 2023, over 6,000km of road had already been upgraded, and this is expected to increase to around 8,500km by mid-2025.
28 RAC Social & Community Impact Report 2022/23
Driving through WA's South West
29
Influencing Regional road network safety improvements on local government roads The Regional Road Safety Program almost exclusively focuses on State Government managed regional roads43. However, half of regional fatal and serious injury crashes occur on local government managed roads. Many of these roads are not currently eligible for Regional Road Safety Program treatments due to a narrow sealed width and lack of line marking. Working with Main Roads WA and the West Australian Local Government Association (WALGA), we commissioned the Australian Road Research Board (ARRB) to: » identify up to 10,000km of sealed, high-speed roads managed by local governments to be reviewed » identify the most suitable low-cost treatments for these roads » calculate the impact of these treatments on the safety rating of each road and also the likely reduction in fatalities and serious injuries » develop a business case that could be used to support the necessary investment to deliver this program The business case proposes upgrades to 439 roads across 97 local government areas which could prevent over 600 fatalities and serious injuries over a 30-year period. We will be working with our project partners and local government to secure funding for this program.
Safer Speeds Trial A step-change is urgently needed to accelerate a reduction in the number of people killed and seriously injured (KSIs) needlessly occurring on roads across WA; and moving to safer speeds is a key opportunity. The WA Government’s Driving Change 2020 – 2030 Strategy sets an ambitious target to reduce road fatalities and severe injuries in WA by 50-70 per cent by 2030, and to zero by 2050. The target relies heavily on speed limit reductions. WA’s South West is consistently one of the worst regions in the State for road trauma. Last year, 28 lives were lost on South West roads, representing a 12 per cent increase on the five-year average. Between 2018 and 2022, 171 people were killed on South West roads and 1,041 seriously injured.
30 RAC Social & Community Impact Report 2022/23
In June 2022, we initiated a partnership with the City of Busselton and the Shire of Augusta-Margaret River to collaborate on a safer speeds trial project. The trial takes a holistic and coordinated approach to planning and rolling out appropriate speed limit reductions to encourage safer speeds across the local government area. The Trial is also being supported by Main Roads WA. Phil Jones Associates (PJA) have been commissioned to undertake a network review of the roads within the City of Busselton and the Shire of Augusta-Margaret River and to develop a safer speed limits blueprint. PJA has collated and analysed data from a range of sources including road hierarchy, speed limits, traffic counts, land use, crash risk and history, past speed limit review requests, and community nominations from a community engagement exercise run by the local governments. The 3-year trial is anticipated to commence in 2024 following further community engagement, council endorsement and Main Roads WA approval of speed limit changes. There is a proven relationship between travel speed reductions and improvements in road safety outcomes, with a 10km/h reduction in travel speeds reducing KSI crashes by up to 30 per cent in highspeed environments10. When a speed limit is reduced by 10km/h, the actual level of reduction in travel speeds is not usually as large as the reduction in the speed limit, but still typically leads to a 20 per cent reduction in deaths and serious injuries. By modelling historical WA crash data and reductions recorded in previous evaluations, we can predict how many KSIs different speed limit reductions could prevent10: Rank Speed limit change
Predicted KSI savings (2022 to 2030)
1
Reducing all speed limits above 40 km/h by 10km/h
4,065 people
2
60 km/h to 50 km/h
1,109-1,424 people
3
50 km/h to 40km/h
528 people
4
70 km/h to 60 km/h
328-597 people
5
110 km/h to 100 km/h
248-569 people
6
90 km/h to 80 km/h and 80 km/h to 70 km/h at intersections
288 people
Influencing Improving active mobility safety at signalised intersections The intersection of Wellington Street and George Street is a signalised intersection with pedestrian/ cyclist crossings located right outside our Head Office, Koorlup, in West Perth. A popular Principal Shared Path (PSP) crosses the intersection from north to south. There were 34 crashes at this intersection between 2017 and 2021, including five (all right angle) crashes involving cyclists. This location was also identified by members in our 2019 Risky Roads campaign as the 17th riskiest intersection in the state. We commissioned engineering consultancy GHD to undertake a study of the intersection to explore if video analytics of footage collected by drones could offer cost-effective insights on how to improve cyclist and pedestrian safety at urban intersections.
70 seconds 240 seconds
During a weekday in April 2021, drone footage covering 2 hours of both the morning and afternoon peak periods was collected from a vantage point approximately 70 metres above derelict land to the side of the intersection. Artificial intelligence software was used to determine the type, speed and route of each road user. This data was synchronised with signal timing data to determine at what point in the signal cycle road users were crossing the intersection. The study found that the majority of cyclists and pedestrians started crossing on a red man. Further investigation revealed that the signals were not optimised for cyclists, pedestrians or motor vehicles, with long crossing wait times and gaps in road traffic tempting cyclists and pedestrians to cross illegally. RAC and GHD presented the findings of the study to Main Roads WA and the City of Perth in early 2023 and proposed several interventions to improve safety. Main Roads WA is now planning to investigate this and neighbouring intersections further to understand the impact of different interventions. maximum wait time for a vehicle to get a green light at Wellington Street intersection
maximum time for a pedestrian to cross Wellington Street if they only make each of the three road crossings when a green light is displayed
31
National Road Safety Week National Road Safety Week raises awareness of the impacts of road crashes on our community and promotes the importance of safe road use, and WA was the host state for 2023. This year for National Road Safety Week in May, our message focused on safer speeds – ‘Change your speed. Change your outcome’. Speed is a major contributor to our poor road safety record in WA. This is why our aim is to educate WA drivers on how their speed can change the outcome of a crash. To do this we created the RAC Road of Regret – a confronting outdoor exhibition that demonstrated three heartbreaking outcomes of a two-car crash. Spread across three rooms, we showed three different crash outcomes based on three different speeds. In the first, a motorist is travelling at the 50km/h speed limit and t-bones another car, resulting in minor injuries. In the second scenario, the motorist is travelling 10km/h over the speed limit, and the other driver suffers severe injuries. In the third, the motorist is speeding by 20km/h and the other driver does not survive. We partnered with the Road Safety Commission and sponsored 22 grassroots events across metropolitan and regional WA.
The events were run by local organisations and community groups from Walpole in the south to Roeburn in the north, including: » Access Plus WA Deaf Inc. – An event explaining all aspects of Road Safety in Auslan, and the launch of the Deaf Awareness and Auslan training for Driving Instructors, Testing Officers and Defensive Driving Instructors » Gascoyne RoadWise Committee – Driver Reviver set up at Edagee 24-hour rest stop greeted drivers with reusable coffee cups, snacks and a sausage sizzle » Newman Neighbourhood Centre Inc. – A community event providing locals with fluro high vis vests and bike lights for increased safety. Local schools ran a ‘Fluro Friday’ where students wore fluro to school to increase awareness of road safety and being seen on the road » York Community Resource Centre – The York CRC carpark and Peace Park turned into an interactive community inclusive project with a road safety bike track, remembrance wall, crash display by York police, RAC Rescue Experience, St John Ambulance experience and car check stations. Through our sponsorship of the RAC Arena and the RAC Derby, we championed the road safety message at West Coast Fever and Fremantle Dockers Road Safety Matches in May via activations, quizzes and player endorsement.
RAC Derby We have been a proud partner of the RAC Derby (Fremantle Dockers versus West Coast Eagles) since 2019, with the addition of the AFL Women’s Derby to our partnership in 2020. Did you know one person is killed or seriously injured every five hours in WA? That means, in the time it takes for the Derby to finish, someone in WA will be killed or seriously injured on WA roads.
The campaign included: » Derby Preview Show aired on Channel 7 pre-game with RAC road safety content to 85,000 viewers » Road safety themed stadium assets including boundary signage and superscreen advertising » Road safety speed demonstration video with high profile players Jeremy McGovern and Michael Walters, which was viewed 211,000 times
The RAC Derby allows us to highlight road safety awareness, and this year we called on footy fans to slow down behind the wheel with our new campaign ‘Change your Speed, Change your Outcome’.
» Road safety match day quiz with 3,445 entries
The 56th Derby, held on 2 April 2023 attracted a crowd of 56,090 to the game with an additional 547,633 TV viewers.
» 2 out of 3 survey respondents agreed that the messaging made them think about their own driving behaviour (n=3,886)
32 RAC Social & Community Impact Report 2022/23
» RAC Derby post-match member survey 5,470 respondents with 68% recall of road safety messaging
RAC's National Road Safety Week exhibition - Road of Regret
Community Education Programs Tow Safe
E-Scooter Essentials
Since 2020, we’ve offered free caravan safety workshops which cover the principles of safe towing and road rules, along with practical skills that include reversing, tyre checks, correct loading and weighing. Participants have the opportunity to practice reversing a caravan in an enclosed environment with a professional instructor.
We have supported Neuron Mobility to deliver a series of e-scooter safety workshops across WA. Aimed at first-time e-scooter riders or anyone who felt they would benefit from a refresher, we’ve been teaching people to ride safely - including turning, braking, parking, instruction on riding rules, and how to share pathways with cyclists and pedestrians.
» 1,447 participants attended a Tow Safe workshop this year
» 84 participants attended across eight events, with a calendar of workshops scheduled for 2023.
» 4,089 participants have attended 419 workshops since 2020
» 100% of survey respondents reported a greater understanding of how to safely operate an e-scooter
» 57% of participants attended the workshop as they were new to caravanning RAC post-workshop survey (n=1,306)
Tow Safe (Advanced) A review of Tow Safe participant feedback has revealed some consistent requests to develop an advanced version of the programs with more technical towing content and an increased opportunity to practice towing skills and reversing under more challenging conditions. In consultation with our partner Driver Risk Management, an advanced workshop has been developed with workshops commencing from August 2023.
RAC post-workshop survey (n=28)
Bike Basics We are excited to launch our new Bike Basics workshop series, which will provide participants with hands-on training to learn basic to advanced bike riding skills for all ages. The session will provide knowledge and skills about bike maintenance, safe cycling practices and a group bike ride. Visit https://rac.com.au/about-rac/communityprograms to find out more about our community education programs.
33
RAC bstreetsmart
Case Study
RAC bstreetsmart and RAC Project Road Smart® Delivering high impact education events for senior high school students Why Young drivers are among WA’s most vulnerable and are consistently over-represented in crash statistics. Alarming data from the Road Safety Commission revealed the number of 17- to 19-year-olds killed on WA roads in 2022 doubled compared to 2021 figures44. The inexperience and overconfidence of young drivers puts them at significantly higher risk on our roads. We want to educate students about safe driver and passenger behaviour, including the effects of alcohol, speed, distraction and incorrect use of seatbelts. We want to encourage young people to make safer choices and reduce risk taking behaviours behind the wheel.
What Since 2012, we’ve hosted RAC bstreetsmart, a free event for year 10 to year 12 students in the Perth metropolitan area and surrounds. The event focuses on driver and passenger behaviour and highlights the far-reaching effects of road crashes. RAC bstreetsmart features a live crash scene re-enactment attended by emergency services, just as it would occur in real life.
34 RAC Social & Community Impact Report 2022/23
Our regional road safety education event for secondary schools, RAC Project Road Smart®, travels to regional locations biennially. Like RAC bstreetsmart, the program features a crash re-enactment, which has been filmed as a docudrama and showcases the response by emergency services.
How RAC bstreetsmart and RAC Project Road Smart® are run with the support of the WA Police Force, Department of Fire and Emergency Services, St John WA and Royal Perth Hospital. Held at RAC Arena, RAC bstreetsmart provides thousands of high school students an opportunity to witness a live re-enactment of a fatal crash involving a young driver and their passengers. Police, Paramedics and Firefighters demonstrate how they respond to a crash, and first-hand accounts are delivered by guest speakers who have been directly impacted by road trauma. After the presentation, students can to talk with emergency services personnel. We held two RAC bstreetsmart events this year, one an earlier postponement due to COVID-19, and over 17,000 year 10 to 12 students attended across the two events. RAC Project Road Smart® showcases the real consequences of a fatal car crash through a filmed re-enactment docudrama, and is also accompanied by guest speakers who share their personal experience of road trauma. WA Police officers stationed in the region join the event program to share local insights and the realities of regional road crashes. These events are supported by local emergency services and students are encouraged to interact with first responders to hear their perspectives on attending serious road crashes.
We delivered RAC Project Road Smart® events in the following locations this year: » Karratha – 250 students attended » Bunbury – over 1,100 students attended » Kalgoorlie – 300 students attended
Impact Despite the challenges presented by COVID-19 restrictions this year:
82,000 6,000
students have attended RAC bstreetsmart since launching in 2012
students have attended a Project Road Smart® event since launching in 2019
Students are encouraged to complete a pre and post event survey designed to understand their attitude to risk taking behaviour on the roads before and after attendance at RAC bstreetsmart.
Scenario: You are running late so the driver speeds up to get where you are going on time » Only 28 per cent of students considered speeding to be extremely dangerous before attending the event. » This increased to 45 per cent after attending RAC bstreetsmart
Scenario: One of the people in the car is not wearing a seatbelt » Only 39 per cent of students indicated that not wearing a seatbelt to be extremely dangerous before attending RAC bstreetsmart. This increased to 61 per cent following the event. » The number of students who considered not wearing a seatbelt to be either very or extremely dangerous increased from a total of 77 per cent to 90 per cent post-event. September 2022 event survey (pre-event n=909, post-event n=801)
“I knew what the consequences of a crash were, but after experiencing it 'firsthand', I knew that the consequences physically and mentally weren't just bad, they can be severe. The presentation inspired me to make sure that I stay responsible on the road so that not only I keep myself safe, but others safe as well. One small mistake can cost you and others everything” – Year 10 student. Want to know more about our school education programs for primary and secondary students? Visit https://rac.com.au/about-rac/communityprograms/community-education
Our participants get a lot from the caravan safety sessions:
Did you know?
“Brilliant session. Such a great forum to learn, practice and ask questions. The theory and Our Safer Cars commitment legalities were explained very well. The practical, When it comes to safety, not allsignals, cars are created showing the use of the hand was worth equal. They can provide very different levels of its weight in gold.” safety in a crash and have differing abilities to help “Highly thisthe experience to all people you avoidrecommend one. The safer car, the better the who own or are looking own a caravan. Wellpotential outcome for the to occupants and others. presented and very knowledgeable instructors.” We feel so strongly about vehicle safety that Driving Regional Roads sessions are2012. we’ve hadon a safer cars commitment since important for or allfinance driversany travelling We don’t insure (new oronused) WA roads: vehicles manufactured from then onwards, which have been rated the Australasian New was Car “The Driving onby Regional Roads session Assessment (ANCAP) and didn’t achieve very good. Program The presenter engaged well with the 4 diverse or 5 stars. audience. The key messages were clear and consistent, and pointsby were raised in logical ANCAP, which is supported RAC and Australia’s sequence withclubs, supporting Eachtotopic other motoring uses aexamples. range of tests was described from simulate how cars areseveral likely toperspectives, perform in aso as to relate across a very broad audience. crash and the likely injuries to occupants.Most Cars importantly of thewith content was highly relevant are given 0 toall 5 stars, 4 and 5 star cars being with safer. a focus on WA conditions. This was the first much RAC presentation I have attended, and I will now We’ve called on Government for the try toconsistently attend others.” display of ANCAP star ratings to be mandatory at The identified duringsafety the vehicle themost pointcommon of sale toissues help drivers prioritise health lowcar. oil, faulty brakes, depleted whenchecks buyingwere a new batteries and poor tyre quality. By identifying these If you or are thinkingabout aboutthe buying a used of risks, andhave raising awareness importance car, the Used checks Car Safety (UCSR)we program regular vehicle andRatings maintenance, know we’re reviews datasafety fromon more eight-million helping to crash improve ourthan roads. police-reported road crashes, covering hundreds of Tales models from our safety vehicle tovehicle give each car a star rating. check technicians: Do you know your car’s safety rating? “I identified a completely flat battery during one of the vehicle checks. Other notable issues were an oil leak onto the alternator which was heard ofwhich ANCAP causing an alerthad on the dash was promptly rectified, and two cars that each failed a brake fluid test. A lot of cars had critically worn tyres which I recommended to be replaced as soon as possible. had heard of UCSR
72 6% 27% Only 1 in 3 %
It is so important to educate the community about the safety of their vehicle and the importance of regular servicing and checks.” claimed to know their main – RAC Contractor Operations Coordinator vehicle's ANCAP rating down from 37% in 2020
members correctly believed that a 2014 vehicle with five star ANCAP rating is less safe than a 2020 vehicle with a five star ANCAP rating RAC Member Priorities Tracker, July 2022, n=334
35
Case Study
RAC Rescue Helicopters
Impact
Our 20 year sponsorship of the RAC Rescue helicopters is one way we’re working to reduce the devastating impacts of road crashes
Our sponsorship of this emergency service helps bring us closer to our Vision 2030 and every RAC member is contributing to the lifesaving work of this service.
Why We want to prevent crashes from occurring. When that’s not possible, we want to reduce the impact. The quicker emergency services can reach the scene of a serious crash, provide critical care, and transport those injured to hospital, the greater their chance of survival. The hour immediately following such crashes is known as the “Golden Hour”. This is when the chances of preventing death through prompt medical treatment are the highest.
What We’ve sponsored WA’s only 24/7 emergency rescue helicopter service since 2003. The RAC Rescue helicopters provide urgent aeromedical care to those in need, across the largest emergency services jurisdiction in the southern hemisphere. The service is funded by the State Government and managed by the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES).
How The two RAC Rescue helicopters, based at Jandakot in Perth and at Bunbury, provide emergency medical and search services to 90 per cent of WA’s population and can be airborne within 15 minutes of receiving an incident call. The service allows for critical care paramedics to attend to medical emergencies in regional, rural and remote locations not easily accessible by ambulance or Flying Doctors. Between the two helicopters, RAC Rescue attends missions as far north as Jurien Bay and south to Windy Harbour, as well as up to 110km offshore.
RAC Rescue Experience Since 2017, the RAC Rescue Experience has been travelling around the State to give members of the community a virtual reality experience of the life-saving service. The four-minute, 360-degree experience takes participants on a mission onboard one of the RAC Rescue helicopters. Over 9,400 people took part in the experience this year, through 44 metropolitan and regional events and community days.
36 RAC Social & Community Impact Report 2022/23
We are extremely proud to acknowledge the 20th anniversary of the RAC Rescue helicopter service this year since the commencement of the service in Perth in 2003, and Bunbury in 2016. For 20 years, RAC Rescue has responded to a diverse range of significant emergencies throughout WA including major traffic crashes. Research shows Western Australian’s are up to 50 per cent more likely to survive a major crash if they’re taken directly to a Perth hospital by the RAC Rescue helicopters compared to patients transported by road to a country hospital first45. This year alone, the RAC Rescue helicopters have flown 133,344 kilometres and attended 397 incidents related to road crashes.
20 years of service statistics:
2 million
kilometres travelled across WA equal to travelling around the world 50.4 times
4,903 994 6,524 22,370.6
road crash rescues attended
search and rescues
patients transported
hours spent on missions equal to 2.55 years / 932.1 days non-stop in the air Last year, the State Government invested $26.7 million in a significant upgrade of the DFES Rescue helicopter service. The first of the next generation helicopters is expected to take flight in late 2023. The new helicopters are capable of even greater speed, range, capacity, and have improved onboard capabilities.
The RAC Rescue helicopters are sponsored by RAC, funded by the State Government and managed by the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES).
Kimberley floods
Jack’s story
In January, RAC Rescue assisted with evacuations in the Kimberley region after major flooding early in the month.
It was a summer morning like any other when 29-yearold Jack headed out for a surf that left him with severe spinal injuries and temporarily paralysed.
» Deployed for 39 days (03 Jan – 10 Feb 2023)
The local St John Ambulance crew were first to arrive on scene, confirming his injuries were too serious to be transported by road. The RAC Rescue helicopter was dispatched to quickly get him to a trauma hospital. The RAC Rescue helicopter landed nearby and Jack was carefully treated by the Critical Care Paramedic and transferred to the cabin.
» 546 hours total alert / duty hours by the crew » 15 missions completed » 63.8 hours mission time flown » 8,439 kilometres flown » Total rescued / transported – 15 people (four aeromedical related)
Four and a half months after the accident, Jack came home, continuing to spend five days a week in physiotherapy and occupational therapy. Within the year he would make an extraordinary recovery, learning how to walk again. “Every step of the way, the first responders did an amazing job and we can’t thank them enough,” Jack said.
37
Case Study
Impact
RAC Go app A safe driving app that provides insights into driving habits and encourages safer behaviours behind the wheel Why Our Vision is to reduce the number of people killed and seriously injured on our roads. We want to see road users take greater responsibility for themselves and other road users. Our members have told us they want to feel empowered to take control and reduce risks in their daily life - but aren’t always sure of where to start. We also know that our members enjoy engaging with our apps and tracking and sharing progress with friends and family, as evidenced through our successful Safer Driver and Lifestyle apps.
The user insights from the RAC Go app which have been measured in the first four months of engagement demonstrate that the app is effective towards changing behaviour and encouraging safer driving habits. We've seen that: » Being in a group encourages users to improve, likely due to accountability and ‘healthy’ competition. > Users in a group perform better across measures of phone usage, harsh movements, speeding and overall trip score. » Overall user trip score improves when the user accepts a challenge through the app. > The first two weeks of a challenge show a more significant change in behaviours, in particular for challenges related to reducing phone usage. » The longer the score streak, the more users try to maintain it. > The effect of this is most visible in phone usage score.
What Working in partnership with Sentiance, an intelligencedriven data science and behaviour change company, the RAC Go app provides coaching and feedback to help create safer habits behind the wheel. RAC Go uses movement information about a car trip to monitor driving behaviours including speed, distraction and harsh movements. At the end of the trip, the app provides personalised feedback to the driver about the journey with guidance and tips for improvement. Users can learn from this information and feedback and improve their driving to create safer driving habits.
How The app is easy to use and can be accessed by RAC members and non-members anywhere in Australia. Data management and protecting the privacy of app users has been front of mind since the conception RAC Go is aligned with the RAC Privacy Policy providing confidence to our community. RAC Go was launched in March 2023, and in the first four months the app had over 10,000 downloads.
372,000 1,617 14.2 11.5
trips recorded
users have accepted a safer driving challenge
minutes = average trip duration
kilometres = average trip distance
38 RAC Social & Community Impact Report 2022/23
The RAC Go app has also provided insights into trends and factors influencing risky driving behaviours: » Early mornings and rush hours (5am to 8am and 3pm to 5pm) record the highest measures of phone usage, speeding and harsh movements » 10 per cent of drivers speed in more than 60 per cent of their trips » The most common speeding area recorded in the app this year was along Bussell Highway near Busselton, followed by the Mitchell Freeway in Osborne Park We continue to listen to user feedback with regular releases of new functionality to the RAC Go app, including a weekly email update to users providing valuable insights on their driving and highlighting where they can focus or improve their outcomes.
A person driving safely
39
Sustainable activities and initiatives The mobility choices we make today should not impact negatively on the lifestyle and choices of future generations. To reduce harmful emissions from vehicle travel, we need greater uptake of active and public transport, low and zero emission vehicles, better fuel quality, and tighter noxious emissions standards and mandatory CO2 emission standards for new vehicles. More broadly, reducing reliance on non-renewables for electricity generation is important to further reduce lifecycle emissions for EVs in Australia. We’re continuing to support our members and our people to make more sustainable transport choices. This year, to help drive positive outcomes, we’ve developed and progressed a range of activities and initiatives with our members, the community, government and others. This has included our ongoing participation on government working groups such as the WA Advocacy for Consumers of Energy Forum as well as in the former Net-Zero Perth Roundtable, advocating our key policy and infrastructure priorities, including through submissions on issues such as a national electric vehicle strategy; in addition to doing other impactful initiatives like those showcased in this report.
Attitudes towards EVs and hybrids
50%
of members would likely consider an EV or hybrid for next vehicle purchase
For members who are not considering an electric or hybrid vehicle next, the main barriers to buying an electric or hybrid vehicle are cost (67%); access to charging infrastructure (13%) and; range anxiety / not knowing enough about them (3%).
57% 43% 73%
of members think they’ll own an EV in the next 10 years of members in principle support a future government ban on the sale of new internal combustion vehicles of those say it should begin in 2030 or before
RAC Member Priorities Tracker, November 2022 (n=558)
An electric vehicle driving in WA's South West
40 RAC Social & Community Impact Report 2022/23
Influencing National Electric Vehicle Strategy The inaugural National Electric Vehicle Strategy (the Strategy) was released in April 2023. The Strategy sets out three objectives and 16 initiatives to increase the supply of affordable and accessible EVs; establish the resources, systems, and infrastructure to enable rapid EV uptake; and encourage an increase in EV demand.
Pleasingly almost all of RAC’s recommendations were addressed at least in part. The Federal Government will: » work with states and territories to assess the network and develop a map to facilitate infrastructure, energy and telecommunications planning for EV charging, cross border certainty for EV users, and inform future investment;
Our submission during the consultation phase of the Strategy highlighted RAC’s priorities to:
» enable greater access to EV and charging data to inform investment decisions and the community;
» increase the uptake of active/public transport;
» develop a recycling, reuse and stewardship initiative for batteries;
» the supply and demand of low and zero emission transport options, broader installation of charging infrastructure;
» educate community around the benefits and realities of driving an EV;
» planning for the integration of EVs into power systems and buildings;
» implement incentives to encourage uptake;
» community education;
» increase the second-hand EV market through fleet procurement policies.
» well-considered incentives; » creating a safe second-hand market; » introducing an impactful fuel efficiency standard; and » commencing a nationally-led road user pricing reform.
» future proof new developments; and
Our submission had also called for the Strategy to set out a clear vision and ambitious targets accompanied by key performance indicators for the responsible agencies, and while quoted in the final Strategy, no national targets have been set. The Strategy will be reviewed annually, with a major review planned for 2026. We will continue monitoring progress against the priority actions within the Strategy.
Influencing Real World Testing Program We have accepted an invitation from the Australian Automobile Association (AAA) to be part of an advisory group which will contribute to the technical development of a Real World Testing (RWT) Program, after the Federal Government announced its commitment to allocate the AAA $14 million in funding over four years to deliver a RWT Program. The purpose of the RWT Program is to provide improved information to consumers and policymakers on the fuel consumption and exhaust emissions of light passenger (MA and MC category) and commercial (NA category) vehicles sold in Australia, by testing vehicles in real world operating conditions. An initial target vehicle list for the RWT Program has been established, with small and medium-sized SUVs being prioritised in the first instance given their sales volumes. Passenger vehicles, light SUVs, utes, large SUVs, and other top 50 sellers will also be tested.
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Case Study
RAC Air Health Monitor Launching Australia’s most comprehensive air quality monitoring network and system for healthier air Why Air pollution causes harm to human health and the environment. In major cities across Australia, like Perth, motor vehicles are a key source of emissions. Part of our Vision is to reduce harmful vehicle emissions and deliver proactive initiatives to improve air quality for current and future generations. To do this, we need to collect, measure and analyse data about our local air quality to inform and support our advocacy and social impact initiatives so that current and future generations can enjoy healthier air.
68%
of members say it is ‘extremely’ or ‘very’ important to reduce vehicle emissions.
The top three causes of vehicle emissions that concern our members are: 1. Peak hour traffic jams / congestion on freeways and major highways 2. Heavy vehicles moving freight through corridors 3. Cars idling in school zones for drop off / pick up RAC Opinion Panel survey, May 2023 (n=1,234)
What This year, we launched the RAC Air Health Monitor (AHM). The AHM is the first of its kind and most comprehensive air quality monitoring network and system in the country. Through it, we’re seeking to understand Perth’s current air quality to identify and encourage action around policy, investment, and individual behavioural change to address harmful vehicle emissions. The AHM measures particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2). Our interactive map hosted on our website can be accessed anywhere, anytime. The colour on the map indicates the health of the air and the zoom can be adjusted to get a closer look at a location or area in Perth or Peel. Users can check air quality in real-time or view historical data to see how things have changed over time.
Did you know? Across the globe, different countries and jurisdictions assign different thresholds, labels and colours to classify and communicate air quality levels. The World Health Organisation (WHO) releases guideline values which set annual means and 24-hour means for PM2.5, PM10, NO2 and also SO2, O3 and CO - based on limits of exposure and risk to health. The WHO emphasises that there is no ‘safe’ or ‘risk free’ level of air pollution. So, it’s important to understand what’s happening even when the air pollutant levels are not that bad.
How The AHM is comprised of a network of up to 200 air health sensors which feed localised measurements into a model and a real-time map. The model and map includes inputs from real-time traffic data, meteorology and industrial activity. Data is collected and updated on the map hourly. The air quality sensors are built by Californian technology company, Clarity, which has deployed its next-generation, highly accurate indicative sensors in more than 60 countries. Ramboll Shair developed the CamX model and system which tracks pollution across Perth and Peel.
42 RAC Social & Community Impact Report 2022/23
The RAC Air Health Monitor on a mobile device
43
Clarity Chief Operating Officer Dr Meiling Gao officially launching the RAC Air Health Monitor in front of government and industry representatives
Stakeholders engaging with the RAC Air Health Monitor
Impact The AHM is a powerful interactive tool for the WA community and provides the foundation for supporting sustainability campaigns, air health initiatives and engagement opportunities. Since launching in November 2022, more than 68,000 page views and 29,000 users have accessed the AHM. A key contributor to the success of the project has been the relationships of stakeholders as hosts of an air quality sensor. We have partnered with local governments and agencies, industry, and the education sector to install fixed air quality sensors at strategic locations based on a criterion including proximity to highways and main roads, pedestrian areas, industrial density, and areas with high vehicle idling trends. As a sensor host, stakeholders can log in with their unique account credentials to access the data collected by their sensor through the Clarity Dashboard, a private web app to visualise, analyse and download data from sensors.
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A number of community and school engagement opportunities have since occurred as behavioural change and awareness initiatives which are key to the success of the project. Launched to more than 900 primary schools, the Healthier Air education program features a three-part online series covering a range of topics, including understanding air pollution and where it comes from, what impact emissions have on air quality and the role everyone can play in promoting healthier air. Since launch, we have also been active in presenting to industry at a range of conferences and organised meetings including the Environmental Health Australia Conference, Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) Conference in Spain and the FIA Region II roundtable in Indonesia.
Influencing Better fuels and emissions standards for cleaner vehicles » Australia is one of the only developed countries that does not have a mandatory CO2 standard for new light vehicles » According to RAC members, regulating emissions through national standards for new vehicles is one of the most effective ways to reduce emissions from vehicles 2022 online poll of RAC members (n=944)
Introducing an impactful mandatory fuel efficiency CO2 standard has been a long-standing priority for RAC and will be instrumental in accelerating the supply and uptake of low and zero emission vehicles, thereby reducing harmful vehicle emissions. Released in the first half of 2023, The Fuel Efficiency Standard – Cleaner, Cheaper to Run Cars for Australia: Consultation Paper sought feedback on how the Federal Government should go about implementing a CO2 standard for new vehicles entering the country. Our submission outlined the need for action on an impactful CO2 standard which historically has been way too slow, and also improved fuel and noxious emissions standards and public and active transport networks. Later in 2023 the Government intends to release a Policy Impact Analysis containing options for further consultation. While a CO2 standard will be effective in ensuring supply of a greater range of low and zero emission vehicles to Australia, on its own, the standard will not be sufficient to meet the transport sector’s contribution towards Australia’s current emissions reduction targets. A national strategy to decarbonise transport emissions is needed.
Noxious emissions and fuel quality Australia has noxious emissions standards but they lag far behind other OECD nations. We have called on Government to introduce tighter (Euro 6d or equivalent) emissions standards for new light vehicles. New vehicles entering Europe have had to meet this standard since 2015. To introduce Euro 6d, we need better fuel. So, this year when the Federal Government released Better Fuel For Cleaner Vehicles Draft Regulation Impact Statement, which sought feedback on the permissible level of aromatics in fuel, we contributed to a submission made by the Australian Automobile Association. The submission supported the reduction of aromatic content in 95 RON premium unleaded gasoline (Research Octane Number, a measure of the petrol’s octane rating), while leaving the specification for 91 RON and 98 RON gasoline unchanged. This would enable the introduction of Euro 6d noxious emissions standards and require all new vehicles that can run on 91 RON or 95 RON (around 99 per cent of new vehicles in the Australian fleet) to meet them. Of all OECD countries, Australia allows the lowest quality fuel. Currently, the allowable sulfur content in unleaded petrol is up to 150 parts per million (ppm), 15 times the international standard. Fortunately, Australia’s dirty fuel will get cleaner - from 2024 petrol sold in Australia will have a maximum sulfur level of 10ppm.
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Case Study
EV for a Week member trial Putting our members in the driver’s seat to experience an electric vehicle first-hand Why EVs are becoming increasingly popular in Australia, as more people look for ways to reduce their carbon footprint and save money on fuel costs. They are rapidly gaining momentum as many car manufacturers invest in EV technology. There are barriers that exist to widespread adoption of EVs, including range anxiety, awareness and availability of charging infrastructure, and knowledge about EVs. We want to educate our members and the WA community about the benefits of EVs, including reducing vehicle emissions. Supporting our members in the transition and uptake of low and zero emissions vehicles will contribute significantly towards achieving our Vision for cleaner and healthier air. We also want to collect insights into the challenges and barriers experienced by EV drivers and learn more about what needs to happen to prepare WA for an EV future.
What In December 2022, we launched the EV for a Week member trial. The trial provided a group of our members with the opportunity to experience life with an EV for seven days. We partnered with Mojo Car Share, a WA EV car share start-up, which provided our fleet of fully electric Polestar 2s to deliver the trial. Fifty RAC members participated in the trial, with each driving an EV for a week and completing a daily diary. By sharing their experiences, it can help us to better understand how we can support our members with their transition to a low or zero emissions vehicle.
How The 50 members who participated represented a range of demographics and geographical locations. The aim was to include people who have positive, negative and neutral opinions on EVs. Our members completed pre and post-trial surveys, as well as their daily diaries. Throughout the trial we collected participant feedback and measured any changes in their knowledge and attitudes towards EVs. We shared our members’ insights by publishing their stories on our EV for a Week webpage and sharing on social media.
46 RAC Social & Community Impact Report 2022/23
We also supported these 50 members and their households to become stronger advocates for EVs and promote our role in the shift towards an electric future through our growing range of services and experiences.
Impact Interest in EVs The 50 members collectively traveled 30,000 emission free kilometres across the trial. Through publishing the participant diaries, we were able to share stories and experiences reflecting the broad mix of participant demographics. The authentic, story-telling approach of this content resonated strongly with our audience, reaching over one million people and generating over 2,300 expressions of interest from RAC members. This demonstrated that our members and the community are interested in knowing more about EVs.
Knowledge about EVs The participant diaries and the pre and post-trial surveys enabled us to track changes in participant knowledge, awareness and attitudes towards EVs. Through participation in the EV for a Week trial, the majority of participants reported an increase in their knowledge and awareness of EVs and charging: » Over 85 per cent of participants felt they knew more about EVs than the average person after their trial (more than double the pre-trial figure) » Over 75 per cent of participants reported that it was easy to use a public charging station after their trial » Over 90 per cent of participants said it was easy to charge at home now that they have tried it (compared to 52 per cent before participating in the trial)
Attitudes towards EVs Most participants finished the trial with positive sentiment towards EVs, with many participants starting as ‘EV sceptics’ and becoming ‘EV advocates'. Some trial participants started and remained sceptical of EVs, or reported feeling more sceptical of EVs after participating in the trial. » Over 95 per cent of participants believe that EVs are safe to drive (up from 85 per cent pre-trial) » 100 per cent of participants are confident driving an EV after completing their trial (compared to 82 per cent pre-trial) » 50 per cent of participants experience range anxiety for charging (down from 73 per cent pre-trial)
Pre-trial:
Post-trial:
68%
45% 37%
18% Sceptic
Cautious
24%
Advocate
Sceptic
8% Cautious
Advocate
Age was a leading factor in participants being sceptical or cautious of EVs, as well as access to charging infrastructure. From feedback collected from 38 of the trial participants, we found that despite positive changes in participants attitudes and knowledge towards EVs, the likelihood of them considering an EV or hybrid as their next car dropped from 90 per cent to 79 per cent. Lack of public charging infrastructure was the main reason for the decline. Pre-trial:
3 2 1
5 4
2
5 2
1 1
30-44 years parent
45-64 years parent
1 20-29 years
30-44 years
5
2 1 45-64 years
3 65+ years
Post-trial:
5 6
6
1
4 5 3 20-29 years
Advocate
2
2
2
2
30-44 years
30-44 years parent
45-64 years parent
45-64 years
Cautious
65+ years
Sceptic
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Lizzie’s story RAC member Lizzie Scott was one of the first to complete the trial, and her experience was overwhelmingly positive. “It was an exciting and educational experience, and I was really impressed with how comfortable and easy the car was to drive, and how little it cost to keep it on the road.” But there were some roadblocks for the retiree – especially when she attempted a longer road trip. “There were frustrations in trying to locate freed up charge stations at the beginning of the holiday period. Hanging about is something you have to build into your journey plan” Read more EV for a Week participant diaries at https://rac.com.au/membership-benefits/info/ ev-diaries
Did you know? We introduced the Less Emissions Mission (LEM) back in 2012 to help make lower emission vehicles more affordable to buy and run. The LEM provides a discount for qualifying vehicles on our products, rewarding members for choosing low and zero emission vehicles. Members benefit from the following discounts on RAC products for vehicles that emit less than 150g of CO2 per kilometre: » 0.5% off interest rate on a car loan for the qualifying vehicle » Up to a 25 per cent discount on comprehensive motor vehicle insurance. The discount reduces by 5 per cent each year of manufacture, down to zero discount at five years old This year, we financed 233 car loans that qualified for a LEM discount. As at 30 June 2023, the total number of full EVs with RAC insurance policies was 6,800. This has more than doubled compared to 2,600 EVs at 30 June 2022.
Electric Vehicle for a Week trial participant - Lizzie
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Case Study
RAC Electric Highway® Accelerating the journey to more sustainable mobility across WA.
Monkey Mia
Perth
Why EVs were few and far between in Australia in 2014. However, with movement happening globally, we could see the potential for low and zero emission vehicles to support a shift away from fossil fuelled transport and reduce harmful vehicle emissions for cleaner, healthier air. At that time, we could see challenges for early adopters, not least range anxiety and lack of charging infrastructure. We’d started calling for investment to address this, but we knew more needed to be done to accelerate the provision of crucial charging infrastructure.
What In 2015, we built an Australian-first, the RAC Electric Highway®. We wanted to ‘open the road’ between Perth and WA’s South West for EV drivers, reducing range anxiety for early adopters and inspiring and encouraging interested WA motorists to consider switching. The RAC Electric Highway® started with 11 publicly accessible fast-charging stations connecting Perth and Augusta. Today, it includes a network of 16 publicly accessible charging locations between Monkey Mia and Esperance:
Mandurah
Harvey Australind
Bunbury Dunsborough
Donnybrook Busselton
Margaret River
Bridgetown Augusta Karri Valley
Pemberton
Esperance
Ultra-rapid charger
Fast charger
AC charger
» Two ultra-rapid chargers and one AC charger in West Perth; » Two ultra-rapid chargers in Australind; » 20 fast chargers between Perth and Pemberton; and » Four destination charging stations at RAC Parks and Resorts in Busselton, Karri Valley, Esperance and Monkey Mia.
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How We funded, designed and constructed the Highway, working with a number of local governments partners who are now the custodians of the stations in their areas. We’ve worked with our Parks and Resorts team to install destination chargers that allow guests to plug-in and recharge their EV during their stay. The Highway is available to all EV users in WA as part of the national Chargefox network. Our members save 20 per cent when charging an EV at any RAC Electric Highway® charging location, and any Chargefox ultrarapid site in Australia.
Impact The RAC Electric Highway® has seen a significant increase in usage in the 12 months from July 2022 to June 2023:
51 18,820 418.23 369
The most popular charging locations this year were the ultra- rapid chargers in West Perth (44%) and Australind (14%), followed by the charging stations in Mandurah, Dunsborough, Busselton and Bunbury. This year, we worked with our local government partners to make the Highway even greener, proudly transitioning most of our charging stations to green energy plans. EVs still represent a small proportion of the overall vehicle fleet in WA but the number on our roads is rapidly growing. In 2015, when we launched the RAC Electric Highway®, there were just 174 registered EVs in WA. At the end of June 2023, it was 11,163. There are currently 3,273 EV drivers using the RAC Electric Highway®.
11,163
charges on average per day
Electric vehicles in WA
7062
total charges (approx. 1.5 times more than last year)
3840
megawatt-hour of energy consumed 1568
tonnes total CO2 abatement (approx. 1.5 times more than last year)
890
486 174 Jan 15
276 Jan 17
390 Dec 17
Dec 18
Dec 19
Dec 20
Dec 21
Dec 22
Jun 23
Source: WA Department of Transport (2023)
We’re proud to be supporting and enabling the uptake of EVs, accelerating the journey to more sustainable mobility.
How long does it take to charge?
The RAC Electric Highway® is funded by RAC, with the stations owned and maintained by our local government partners (Shire of Augusta-Margaret River, Shire of BridgetownGreenbushes, City of Bunbury, City of Busselton, Shire of Donnybrook Balingup, Shire of Harvey, City of Mandurah, and Shire of Manjimup). On 30 June 2023, RAC took ownership of the Ultra-Rapid sites in West Perth and Australind. The Electric Highway® is proudly partnered with Chargefox, Australia's largest EV charging network.
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Government investment in EV infrastructure This year, the State Government launched its $15 million Charge Up Workplace EV Charging Grants program, which will co-fund around 50 per cent of the cost for small to medium businesses, notfor-profit organisations and local governments to purchase and install EV charging equipment. The 2022-23 Federal Budget committed $125 million toward electric bus charging infrastructure, which will be matched by the WA Government through the local manufacture of 130 new buses.
The budget also committed funding for the Driving the Nation Fund to be administered by the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA). A total funding package of $146.1 million will be delivered by ARENA over five years from 2023-24 to co-fund projects to decarbonise road transport. This funding will build on ARENA’s previous support for EV charging highway networks, smart charging and vehicle-togrid charging projects, as well as programs for fleets, heavy and long distance vehicles and to incentivise household smart charging.
RAC's electric vehicle at the West Perth ultra rapid charger, part of the RAC Electric Highway®
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image annotation Public transport in Subiaco
52 RAC Social & Community Impact Report 2022/23
Connected activities and initiatives Western Australians need to be able to move easily around their communities using a range of private, public, and shared transport options. They also need to feel socially connected and involved in shaping their local areas. We need good planning and design of places and transport to support vibrant and liveable communities, and for transport to be affordable and accessible for all. Through our social and community impact activities and initiatives we seek to support this. This year, to help drive positive outcomes, we’ve progressed a range of activities and initiatives with our members, the community, government and/or others.
This has included our ongoing participation on government working groups such as the Bike Riding Reference Group and Main Roads ITS Masterplan External Advisory Committee; advocating for key policy and infrastructure priorities; making contributions to state planning policy consultations; and undertaking impactful initiatives like those showcased in this report.
Influencing Foundations for a Stronger Tomorrow – WA’s first infrastructure strategy Infrastructure WA (IWA) is an independent statutory body providing advice to government on WA's infrastructure needs and priorities. We supported IWA’s establishment to help ensure transparent and evidence-based investment decision-making. IWA's inaugural State Infrastructure Strategy Foundations for a Stronger Tomorrow (the Strategy) - was released in mid-2022. There is a significant amount of alignment between the Strategy's recommendations and RAC’s public policy positions and submissions (examples below). The WA Government released their response to the Strategy in February this year, detailing the level of support for the 93 recommendations outlined by IWA within the Strategy. The WA Government supported the provision of enhanced cycling and walking infrastructure by allocating a greater portion of state funding to local government cycling projects and seeking federal funding contributions for a program of cycling infrastructure priority projects.
This support, in addition to the inclusion of 'Perth active transport improvements’ in Infrastructure Australia's priority list for delivery in the near term (0-5 years), is important recognition of active transport as a nationally significant investment opportunity. The WA Government supported the development and implementation of a public transport patronage action plan with a focus on non-build measures. However, they did not fully support the recommendation for the development of a business case for light rail and/or bus rapid transit for investment in the near term. The need to improve public transport accessibility to Perth’s major activity centres, and to and through the inner and middle suburbs, remains one of our longstanding priorities. We will continue working with State Government agencies and other stakeholders to advocate for key priorities and monitor progress against the Strategy.
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Did you know? While WA’s population has been growing steadily over the last decade, VKT has fluctuated. There was a sharp drop during the COVID-affected 2019/20 period, which rebounded in 2020/21 but continues to decline.
In Australia, the volume of motor vehicle traffic is expressed as vehicle kilometres travelled (VKT). By 2030, our goal is for VKT in WA to be 5 per cent lower than the 2018/19 base period (7,183 km driven per person per year). Lowering VKT is aligned with reducing emissions and lowering road fatalities and serious injuries, along with a suite of socioeconomic benefits. VKT (billion)
Population
Vehicle Kilometres Travelled (billion) versus population growth VKT data via Bureau of Infrastructure and Transport Research Economics (BITRE), population data via Australian Bureau of Statistics
54 RAC Social & Community Impact Report 2022/23
2021-22
0 2020-21
500,000
17 2019-20
17.5 2018-19
1,000,000
2017-18
18
2016-17
15,000,000
2015-16
18.5
2014-15
2,000,000
2013-14
19
2012-13
2,500,000
2011-12
19.5
2010-11
3,000,000
2009-10
20
A person cycling along the Swan River
55
How do our members currently get around?
How do our members commute to work and/or study?
Our Member Priorities Tracker surveys provide some insight into current travel behaviour and the motivations behind it. Based on approximately 12,500 responses since the surveys began:
When asked how they travel to work and/or study, around 90 per cent of members generally drive a car. An average of around 7 per cent travel as car passengers, suggesting most members commute to work as the sole occupant in a car.
» 94 per cent of members drive or are a passenger in a car a few days a week or more. > 71 per cent answered 5 days a week or more.
Analysis of members’ stated reasons for why they selected their preferred mode show that those who drive to work/study are more likely to do so because it is convenient/easy and reliable. This differs from the reasons people select other modes:
» 58 per cent drive or are a passenger in weekday peak periods a few days a week or more. » 76 per cent walk outside a few days a week or more. » 13 per cent catch public transport at least once a week.
» People who take the bus/train place higher emphasis on affordability and environmental considerations, as well as convenience/ease of use.
» 28 per cent cycle at least once a month.
» People who cycle or use eRideables do so because it is enjoyable and affordable, and for health and environmental reasons. » People like walking because it is convenient/ easy, enjoyable, and affordable, and for health/ environmental reasons. These motivations show that to encourage mode shift away from private vehicles, other modes need to become more convenient, easy, and reliable, so as to appeal to people who make their travel choices based on those priorities. The relative and/or perceived convenience of the private vehicle appears to be a major barrier to reducing VKT in Perth and WA.
Method of travelling to work/study
2020
2021
2022
2023
100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10%
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eRideable
Other
Taxi/on-demand
Motorcycle
Cycle (incl. ebike)
Walk
Car - as passenger
Bus
Work/study from home
Respondents were able to choose more than one mode
Train
Car - as driver
0%
Influencing A Smart Transport Technology Roadmap for Perth Perth has long faced a host of transport issues related to improving transport network efficiency and reliability, road crashes, limited walkability, and fuel consumption and emissions. The development and implementation of technology solutions, or Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS), to enable a safe, efficient and seamless transport system is essential to supporting the State’s future productivity and liveability. For several years, RAC has been calling on the Federal and State Governments to scale up funding for the planning and deployment of smart transport technologies to improve safety, efficiency and reliability for all road users. To inform this further, this year we completed A Smart Transport Technology Roadmap for Perth in partnership with the University of Western Australia’s Planning and Transport Research Centre (PATREC). The project verified existing knowledge of transport problems and opportunities in Perth, increased awareness of technologies that are currently available to address them, strengthened relationships with key stakeholders, and established a valuable evaluation framework that can be applied to future projects.
In working to formalise a roadmap for deployment of the preferred ITS option (which focused on public transport, pedestrian and cyclist prioritisation and road safety improvement), it became apparent that a major barrier to implementation was a lack of critical ITS architecture to support the deployment of consistent and interoperable technologies. The need for standard ITS architecture to be deployed across WA has also been highlighted as an action in Main Roads WA’s Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) Master Plan 2022-2030. RAC represents its members on the ITS Masterplan’s External Advisory Committee and will continue to advocate for funding towards the development and deployment of ITS technologies which improve management and reliability of the transport network and support greater prioritisation of public and active transport. The final report for the project is available on the iMove Australia website - https://imoveaustralia.com/ project/smart-transport-technology-roadmap-perth/
Cycle path in Perth
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Case Study
Impact
Reconnect WA We have partnered with local governments to help revitalise streets and public spaces across WA.
The interest from local governments, our members, and the community to get involved and help drive positive change in their local areas has been inspiring. It’s been fantastic to see how well the projects delivered to date have been embraced by local people and businesses, with feedback and data showing great successes. Since launching Reconnect WA in 2020, we’ve:
Why
» Supported 32 projects with 29 local governments
Our streets and public spaces play an important role in providing opportunities for us to connect with the people and places that matter to us. How safe, attractive, and vibrant they are has a big impact on how we use them, and ultimately our wellbeing and the liveability of our communities.
» Awarded over $2.7 million in funding
We want people to feel more connected to the places they live, reducing the amount of kilometres people travel in order to live their lives. This can occur through better planning, encouraging active and public transport and by having better spaces closer to them.
What To help breathe new life into our cities, towns and neighbourhoods, we launched an exciting new initiative called Reconnect WA in July 2020. It provided one million dollars to help communities to rebuild a sense of connection, vibrancy, and place.
How This year, we made another one million dollars available to support local governments in delivering communitybased projects to reimagine and revitalise our streets and public spaces – making them more people-focused and inviting. Funding for lower-cost, quick win projects and more significant transformations was made available through an open application process:
27 13,497 10
applications were received from 19 regional and eight metropolitan local governments
members voted for shortlisted projects
projects received funding (four metro and six regional)
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» Helped deliver award-winning placemaking outcomes and activations and street enhancements which improve safety and bring communities around WA together. These improvements have in turn informed RAC and local government policy and planning.
Reconnect WA seeks to help reimagine and revitalise streets and public spaces to... Create vibrant and active places for Western Australians to interact and reconnect with our cities and towns, and each other. Inspire and empower residents and business communities to co-design and drive changes in their local area. Lay the foundations for longer term changes to support safe, sustainable and connected communities.
Shire of Beverley main street upgrades as part of Reconnect WA
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Dardanup Revitalisation Project
Dardanup Revitalisation Project In partnership with the Shire of Dardanup, the Shireowned former depot site was transformed into a new community space ideal for hosting local events. The new Civic Precinct connects the main street, town and hall to Carramar Park by safe pathways for pedestrians to walk between the facilities. The project also included a new nature play trail and an outdoor art gallery featuring vibrant community cocreated artwork. The concept for the revitalisation project was loosely based around the idea of urban laneway renewals often seen in big cities but reimagined for a more rural and regional setting. The outcomes of the Dardanup Revitalisation Project were: » Increased pedestrian connectivity via pathways, creating a direct link between community facilities, sporting areas and the commercial precinct » Enhanced social connection and inspired movement through the play trail » Increased vibrancy and community engagement through co-created artwork panel » Revitalised the depot site to become the heart of the community, providing a green landscaped space conducive to public use and future activations
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“The site has opened up a corridor from one side of town to the other and is now more user-friendly. People walking and cycling are protected from vehicles throughout the site. There are clear community connections connection to space, connection to each other, stories of Dardanup, as well as business outcomes like supporting local artists through display and promotion of their art” - Shire of Dardanup representative
Wellard Village 7-day Makeover Project
Wellard Village 7-day Makeover We partnered with the City of Kwinana to make the Strand in Wellard a more connected, vibrant and active community space and street. The makeover was designed and delivered over seven days by the community and led by David Engwicht, Master Placemaker and Director at Creative Communities. The Wellard Community came together to share ideas, vote, and plan for the projects to be completed over the coming days. We also partnered with Creative Communities to incorporate a youth-specific element, through which local young people were empowered to plan and deliver their own projects (read more about this on page 70). The ideas that were implemented as part of the makeover included: » Colourful hexagonal seating and matching covering over remaining bollards » An arbour with community dining tables beneath » New landscaping, self-wicking beds and nature play areas
Did you know? The Healthy Street Approach is a human-centred framework for embedding public health across transport, the public realm and planning. There are ten Healthy Streets Indicators that each describe an aspect of the human experience of being on streets. These ten must be prioritised and balanced to improve social, economic and environmental sustainability through how streets are designed and managed. The approach can be applied to any streets, anywhere in the world. It requires incremental changes in all aspects of the decision-making processes related to streets and transport and seeks to foster a better urban environment for everyone to enjoy. Have a look at Healthy Streets here healthystreets.com/resources
» A community piano » A youth-inspired wishing well(ard) » A play area with climbing wall and tunnel » An arcade area with outdoor games, such as ping pong and checkers Find out about launched and upcoming Reconnect WA projects by visiting rac.com.au/reconnect
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Case Study
Town Team Movement and Connecting Communities Fund We’re helping enable community groups to do great things. Why When local people feel empowered to get involved in shaping and improving the places where they live, work and socialise, communities thrive. We want to bring people together to design and create shared community spaces that don’t rely on a car to get there, encouraging the use of public transport and shared pathways for bikes, scooters, and walking. In 2018, we became the Principal Partner of Town Team Movement, and created RAC's Connecting Communities Fund to support Town Teams across WA to deliver communitybased transformations of places and spaces.
What Town Team Movement is a not-for-profit founded in WA. They enable local communities and governments to connect, organise and act to enhance their neighbourhoods and create better places to live, work and play. The Town Team Movement approach is innovative, creative and fun. Through our Principal Partnership and our Connected Communities Fund, we’re supporting the Town Team Movement and individual Town Teams to create peoplecentred hubs for their communities.
How Town Teams work collaboratively to identify opportunities for enhancements and beautification of their neighbourhoods. Each group is made up of local people and business owners who volunteer their time to reimagine and refresh public spaces and showcase a sense of belonging to their towns or suburbs. Town Teams are passionate local residents and community members advocating for better neighbourhood design and connected communities. Through RAC's Connecting Communities Fund, we're supporting individual Town Teams to deliver projects that: » Turn blank spaces into great places, making them more vibrant and inviting for local community to better connect; » Enhance public spaces, making them more vibrant and engaging for people to connect (like parklets, play spaces, street furniture and murals); and » Engage the local community to support or showcase local business and activate shared or underutilised space (like community engagement activities, workshops, markets, volunteering opportunities).
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Projects can be large or small in scale – like redesigning underused spaces or temporarily closing off streets to cars to allow kids to play and adults to connect. Since the partnership began, we’ve provided over $350,000 to more than 50 individual Town Teams to help deliver their community placemaking projects across WA:
$122k
of funding was available in FY23 through our Connected Communities Fund
(including dedicated funding to support Pilbara Town Teams)
Impact Our Connecting Community Fund supported the delivery of 10 Town Team initiatives this year including three Perth metropolitan projects and seven regional projects across the Pilbara, Wheatbelt and in Geraldton. We provided our members and our people with the opportunity to vote for their favourite projects, and our people were also able to get involved and support some of the projects and events too.
Spotlight on South Fremantle Bike Hub A collaboration between WestCycle, Town Team Movement, South Fremantle Corner Pocket Town Team and RAC, the RAC South Fremantle Bike Hub provides a community co-designed piece of infrastructure to support and encourage active transport along South Terrace. The idea for a community bike hub came from community feedback, about the lack of bike parking in the area, leading to bikes being locked up on any and all of the surrounding furniture during peak busy periods. After identifying a suitable location for a dedicated bike parking facility – a street corner near Harbour Road, close to restaurants and shops – the local Town Team submitted the concept for funding. A stakeholder engagement workshop was attended by numerous locals and hosted by Town Team Movement, seeking consultation with more than 150 local residents and community. This was then converted into design concepts to present back to the community, at local community event ‘Porchfest’ with preferred selection, and options for what they valued most about the impending bike facility. This provided an opportunity to promote the initiative and determine the level of support and value for design features. After reviewing the feedback and refining the preferred concept, the design was developed and presented to local council for approval. At the end of October 2022 (during Bike Month) the Bike Hub was officially opened at the South Fremantle Bike Party launch event. Around 1,500 people attended the event, with local cultural bike tours, free bike mechanic services, balance bike sessions and a bike valet service.
In February, a follow up evaluation survey was developed and shared. The survey received 112 responses, approximately 50 per cent who lived in South Fremantle, over 98 per cent who use active transport, and around 80 per cent who visit the South Fremantle area monthly. Top most appreciated features of the bike hub were: » bike parking; » bike maintenance repair kit; » seating and shade while enjoying local eateries; and » using it as a meeting place.
We wish to congratulate every Town Team for their dedication in creating connected communities and look forward to seeing the movement grow.
Town Teams are groups of local people - residents, business owners, neighbours - who have come together to drive positive change, enhancing their local area by revitalising and activating community spaces. If you're interested in making a positive change to benefit your community, why not join or start a Town Team in your area? To find out how, visit townteammovement.com
While 66 per cent of survey respondents agreed the new bike facility encourages them to use active transport more frequently, the increasing security of bikes, scooters and eRideables remains an important focus area.
Cyclist using the South Fremantle Bike Hub
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Case Study
Connected Women Creating an online community for women over 50 to connect virtually and in-person Why We want to increase the extent that people feel connected to and within their community. We want to create opportunities for people to come together, reducing social isolation and promoting thriving, vibrant communities. Research has shown that for women over 50, social connections are more challenging to create and maintain. An RAC survey found that many women over 50 admit that friendships are harder to make than when they were younger (55 per cent), with almost one in five (18 per cent) acknowledging they don’t have a single close friend they feel they can lean on for help. Almost half (48 per cent) admitted that despite having friends, there are still times when they feel they have no one they can talk to (n=1,309).
1 in 3
members currently have low wellbeing, according to World Health Organisational measures
RAC Member Value Metric survey, Nov 2022 (n=558)
What With social isolation and loneliness impacting Australians more than ever in recent years - the Connected Women online platform aims to provide a community for women to express themselves, connect with like-minded women and build life-long friendships. Founded in May 2022 through RAC’s BetterLabs Innovation Funnel, Connected Women facilitates friendships for women over 50 through a range of online and in-person events. It’s a safe space for women to chat, learn, schedule and join activities with local members who are there for the same purpose – to create meaningful connections and longterm friendships. For a small monthly membership fee, women can join Connected Women events, start conversations about areas of interest, and connect with women in their local area to arrange meet ups. Whether members prefer big events with lots of action and adventure, or quiet meet ups and walks around the local neighbourhood, Connected Women is committed to providing a safe and inclusive space for women to find their feet and build new friendships in a space that feels most comfortable to them. Connected Women also operates in NSW and Victoria, with plans to grow its network to Queensland, ACT and South Australia soon.
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Impact In the first 12 months of launching Connected Women, 580 women have joined the online community to socialise and make new connections. After one year of operating:
42% 32% 29% 18% 45%
are feeling more connected
are meeting ‘people like me’
feel happier and 23 per cent feel less lonely
of women have found meaningful connections that they believe will be long-term friends
believe that they will with more time
“This community is more than you could ever imagine and there is so much at the heart of it, that brings it together and drives it. Connected Women delivers on many levels and brings forth all that is good when women connect” – Connected Women member To join or find out more, visit the Connected Women website - connectedwomen.com.au
Members at a Connected Women event
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Being involved Our members are at the heart of our social and community impact efforts. Together with our members, partners, and all Western Australians, we’re working towards a better WA. Participate in RAC Council Elections and Annual General Meetings (AGMs) Our member’s input is important to us. Our eligible members are encouraged to get involved in our annual Council Elections and AGMs.
Our AGM provides an opportunity for our members to hear about the organisation’s performance from senior leaders, to ask questions and raise suggestions.
The RAC Council provides guidance and direction as we serve our members in working towards a better WA. The Council is made up of 15 elected members, who are voted in by our members to represent them over a three-year term.
For more information, visit: rac.com.au/about-rac/purpose/agm-election
A group enjoying a community area in Beverley
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A new experience for our members in West Perth
Member research and online surveys
Our new Member and Community floor in our refurbished Koorlup building in West Perth has been created in the same spirit that brought our first members together 118 years ago – to be a purpose-led, member-centred organisation.
Online surveys are one of the ways we undertake research to help us to better understand our member’s needs, thoughts and opinions.
The Member and Community floor houses an exhibition space for community activations and member information sessions. We also have many items on display from our heritage collection, as well as storyboards about our social and community impact initiatives and milestone moments. Our member lounge provides a dynamic area for our members to speak to RAC people about our products and services. Members can grab a coffee from Café 1905, and EVs can be charged using the ultra-rapid chargers located outside our building.
Our Member Priorities Tracker, launched in early 2020, gathers insights each month into how members are moving around their communities, their key concerns and how they think things could be improved. We also ask key questions about community connectedness, which feeds directly into our Social Impact Metric. We want to see a positive change in how connected our members feel within their community.
3,005
members participated in the Member Priorities Tracker this year
Each month, we focus on a different feature topic like road safety, cycling and congestion and many more. The member insights gained through these feature topics inform our social and community impact policies and priorities.
Interested in sharing your opinion? Over 100,000 members have joined RAC Opinion to take part in confidential online surveys on various topics such as transport, road safety and local community issues. Approximately 5,000 members have also joined RAC Members’ Voice, our online community in which members discuss topical issues and share their ideas with RAC and other members. Both RAC Opinion and RAC Members’ Voice provide members with the opportunity to inform and guide what we do at RAC. This year, members have shared their feedback on topical issues such as: » Travel: Members love travelling within WA, with two thirds planning a local holiday in the next six months » Air Quality: one in every 10 members rate the air quality in their local neighbourhood as unhealthy or hazardous » Priorities for WA: While healthcare remains their top priority, members have become increasingly concerned this year about the cost of living in WA To find out more and to join RAC Opinion or RAC Members’ Voice, visit rac.com.au/membershipbenefits/have-your-say
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Member voting station at RAC Koorlup head office
Giving back with road safety
The most popular projects for the Connected Communities Fund as voted for by our members were:
Our annual Leavers and Easter Pit Stops along Forrest Highway continue to be a great reminder to stop and take a break during longer road trips. This year, more than 500 people took a break from their drive and enjoyed free refreshments and vehicle safety checks from our RAC Roadside Assistance Patrols at Pit Stop events.
» Pickle District Park from the Pickle District Town Team in West Perth – transforming a tiny remnant of 100-year-old Hamilton Park that was lost to the freeway in the 1970s. The outdoor space will reinvigorate an arts hub and create place for community events, public art showcase, local markets, outdoor workshops and community festivals.
Voting for community projects
» Centenary Courtyard in the Shire of Corrigin from the 1922 & You Town Team – revitalising an unused grassed area at a historic landmark within main town to feature a stage, yarning circle and water garden.
Member Vote is an initiative that allows our members to have a voice in what community projects RAC supports. This year, we were excited to once again give members the chance to get involved in helping us decide projects to be delivered through our Connecting Communities Fund and Reconnect WA initiative this year.
12,850
members voted for Connecting Communities Fund projects, with 10 Town Team projects being supported
78% increase in voting participation compared to last year
13,497
members voted for Reconnect WA projects, with 10 local government projects being supported
217% increase in voting participation compared to last year
The favourites for Reconnect WA were the City of Gosnells’ Lissiman Street Concept and the Shire of Ravensthorpe’s Reinvigoration of Hopetoun Foreshore project. Keep an eye out through our Your Member Update email for future opportunities to cast a vote.
Celebrating our members Each year we host various events to engage, educate and inspire our members and the WA community. One of the favourites for members and our people alike is the Gold Life Morning Tea, held for members who have reached 50 consecutive years of membership. This year we acknowledged and celebrated 1,200 members and their guests. Two events were held at Crown, with a presentation from our RAC President and Group CEO on the history of RAC and the growth of the Club over the past 50 years. Our members were gifted a gold pin to mark the occasion and were presented with a historic copy of The Road Patrol magazine.
Engaging our stakeholders This year, we launched our new Vision 2030 event series. This repurposed series aims to connect key RAC stakeholders on topics critical to achieving our Vision end states.
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The series has been designed to roll-out with a spotlight on each Vision pillar. Guest speakers have been or will be targeted by their broad industry knowledge, providing a platform for RAC to discuss the initiatives underway or in the pipeline that will help to achieve Vision end states. Partnering with external stakeholders is key to achieving our Vision 2030. The first event was used to communicate our Purpose, Vision and Mission and included a presentation by Chris Riddell, a futurist, on his 2030 predictions and the importance of social transformation and creating a lasting impact. The series also provided a platform for our Group CEO to present on our Vision for 2030. Just over 200 stakeholders were in attendance. The second event will focus on our Sustainable pillar.
Road safety education for schools We offer free road safety education programs to primary and secondary school students across WA. This year, together with our road safety education partners, we were able to reach over 42,500 students in classrooms across WA. » This year, our School Education and Motoring teams co-delivered our second year of Car Maintenance and Safety workshops for high school students. Building on our On the Roads program, we provide young adults with theoretical and hands on experience around basic car maintenance and connecting the importance of maintaining your vehicle with staying safe on the roads. These life skills are critical as they begin learning to drive and consider their first vehicle purchase.
600
high school students have participated in a workshop this year
» In partnership with Happiness Co, we delivered workshops to high schoolers about how self-esteem and mental health can impact choices behind the wheel. The What’s Driving Your Decisions workshop encourages students to reflect on their emotions and self-awareness, connecting mental wellbeing with peer pressure and the role these play in making good decisions on and off the road.
4.5k
students attended What’s Driving Your Decisions this year
» Our ongoing partnership with the Paraplegic Benefit Fund (PBF) supports the delivery of their Road Injury Prevention program in secondary schools.
10.8k
» We continue to deliver our comprehensive Around the Roads and On the Roads programs that feature a series of in-class presentations and workshops designed for primary and secondary schools across WA.
17.8k
primary and 8,600 secondary students participated in these RAC in-class presentations this year. Road safety education resources continue to be available online for use in classrooms or at home.
Young people leading the charge As emerging leaders and changemakers, young people are an important part of our future. This year, we’ve delivered four innovative pilot projects to explore how we can give young people opportunities to design and lead positive change in their communities and help us achieve our Vision for a safer, more sustainable and better connected WA.
South Hedland Youth-led Placemaking Program We partnered with young people from the Hedland Foundation Follow the Dream initiative to empower them to create a safer, more sustainable and betterconnected community. The project was delivered in collaboration with the Town of Port Hedland and Town Team Movement. The project saw more than 30 young people cleverly curate a street calming initiative along Wise Terrace in front of the South Hedland shopping centre where cars would often speed and illegally park. After workshopping ideas, the young people decided a supersized road mural would work to slow down cars and create a safer and more inviting place for people to come together. We connected the young people with artists to co-design and create the mural based on their local stories and connection to Country. It took four days to install, and local community members commented on how wonderful it was to see young people making their mark. The mural has since catalysed the stretch of road to become a permanent pedestrian plaza that includes newly planted trees and seating, addressing dangerous driving concerns and creating a more connected space in the heart of the town centre. The initiative won the 2023 Best Regional Contribution Award at the Parks and Leisure Australia WA Awards.
students heard from road crash victims with spinal injuries that were empowered to share their stories
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Wellard 7 Day Makeover We collaborated with the City of Kwinana and Creative Communities International to co-facilitate workshops and fund a youth-led component of the 7 Day Makeover of Wellard Village, a transit-oriented community with a train station and main street at its heart. Over 20 local young people led project groups and worked alongside community members to deliver three projects focused on creating spaces for community members to sit, play and interact with each other, as well as bringing more vibrancy to the area. Young people from the community, including Kwinana Youth Advisory Council members, engaged with each step of the process.
Participants began by assessing the current strengths and weaknesses of the Wellard Village precinct, then brainstormed ways to revitalise the area with the creation of welcoming places for young people, with the goal to encourage locals to walk and ride to their local town centre to reduce car trips and vehicle emissions. The young volunteers then had opportunities to develop new skills and knowledge in urban design, transport planning, budgeting, project management, collaboration and leadership. They demonstrated their leadership abilities by mobilising other young people through distributing project flyers and delivering presentations at school assemblies. During the weeklong makeover, the enthusiastic participants rolled up their sleeves to acquire hands-on skills as their projects – The Arcade and Belle’s Well – were brought to life.
A Kwinana Youth Advisory Council Member shares her experience of participating in the revitalisation project Q: What were you trying to achieve with the project? A: Our projects aimed to create spaces for young people in the community that were safe, engaging and representative of them. I believe we were successful through the creation of not one but two youth spaces - The Arcade and Belle's Well. These spaces are inviting to young people and provide activities and places to hang out.
Q: What skills and opportunities did you gain from being part of this project? A: I learned so many valuable skills from being a part of this project. With the guidance of other volunteers and the on-site tradesmen, I learnt the best techniques for painting, drilling, shovelling and demolition. A local artist came down and taught us how to spray-paint appropriately, using the right materials and equipment to do it safely. I had many opportunities during the project, the most important being able to provide input and a young person’s perspective on major decisions such as the universal colour palette. I was really grateful for the opportunity and look forward to what comes next for the community.
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Q: Why do you think it is important for young people to be involved in placemaking initiatives? A: I think it is important for young people to be involved in placemaking initiatives so that they themselves can have a hand in their own community, in their day-to-day life. They are valuable members of society and often provide new and exciting ideas that may not have been considered without their perspective. As individuals, young people may be instilled with a sense of belonging and importance if their opinions and insights are being valued.
South Hedland Youth Placemaking program
Mosman Park Better Block
KTY Youth Hub
The public space surrounding the Alf Adams Pavilion in Mosman Park was transformed into a colourful and active community hub thanks to the efforts of a determined team of young residents. The group worked in collaboration with the RAC’s Youth Engagement team, Town Team Movement, the Town of Mosman Park and the US-based Better Block Foundation to reimagine the area.
When the Shire of Trayning swung into action to revitalise the centre of their Town, a group of motivated young people got involved in developing a dedicated youth space – the first in the area. With the support of RAC and Town Team Movement, the young community members played a key role in transforming an underutilised site into a vibrant indoor and outdoor community space, complete with recreation areas, mural and a chill out zone.
The placemaking initiative is the first Australian Better Block project. The Better Block philosophy prioritises people over cars, creating walkable districts where people of all ages are welcome. It involves implementing dynamic interventions such as pop-up installations, painted pathways, bike racks and moveable seating. The Better Block philosophy recognises that well-designed public spaces can have a profound impact on individual and community health. By promoting active transport, these spaces encourage physical activity, foster social interactions, and reduce reliance on cars. Volunteering opportunities encourage individuals to focus outwardly, reducing social isolation and promoting good mental health. Beyond actively shaping their local area, the project also provided valuable opportunities for the civic-minded young people to gain work experience and develop new skills. By collaborating with organisations and professionals, the volunteers built local networks and connected with likeminded individuals. These expanded networks not only provided support and resources during the project, but also laid the foundation for future collaborations, personal growth, and continued involvement in community initiatives.
Participation in the KTY Youth Hub project provided young volunteers with a unique opportunity to make an impact in their local Wheatbelt community and have their voices heard. Planning workshops saw the group take ownership of the project by generating, selecting and refining ideas for the Hub. Participants were educated on placemaking and urban design, to ensure the project was successful in helping us to achieve our Vision end state related to enhancing social connectedness. The group’s achievements were formally recognised with a certificate presentation at the KTY Do-Over Event that brought together over 300 locals from the surrounding areas – a remarkable turnout for a small Wheatbelt community.
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RAC Intellibus® trial The RAC Intellibus® was Australia’s first and longestrunning automated vehicle (AV) trial to operate on public roads. The trial has helped foster a better understanding of AV technology, enabling Western Australia to take an informed and leading role in developing initiatives to facilitate, regulate and understand these systems and potential road safety benefits while providing our members and the community to experience it firsthand.
Our driverless journey In 2016, with support from the WA State Government and City of South Perth, we launched the RAC Intellibus® trial. The trial’s objectives were to: » Explore the benefits and potential impacts of driverless vehicles; » Give Western Australians the chance to see, use and experience driverless technology; and » Help WA and Australia prepare for the changing nature of mobility and support the safe transition of these vehicles onto our roads. This financial year alone, the Intellibus® has travelled 3,900 driverless kilometres carrying 3,125 passengers.
We concluded the RAC Intellibus® trial in June 2023. Across seven years, the RAC Intellibus® has taken 25,089 passengers on a free 3.5km journey along the foreshore, connecting Sir James Mitchell Park with the Old Mill. Participant surveys have shown that 96 per cent of passengers have rated their experience onboard the Intellibus® as positive. When asked to what extent they think it was appropriate that RAC acts on behalf of its members and the community to ensure that WA will be ready to introduce driverless vehicles, 39 per cent said it was extremely appropriate, 44 per cent very appropriate and 14 per cent moderately appropriate. 98 per cent of passengers also see AVs being used in WA in the near future (n=4,249).
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In 2019, the Intellibus® became the first driverless vehicle to operate on public roads in regional Western Australia. The Intellibus® visited Busselton from 8 May to 30 June 2019, giving 1,596 people the opportunity to take a ride and learn about driverless vehicle technology and its benefits. Added route complexities, including manoeuvring through a roundabout, were demonstrated through the first regional demonstration. 97 per cent of passengers rated their overall experience as positive. Also in 2019, the RAC Imagine Program™, supported by the City of South Perth, was launched which allowed primary school students to discover past and future technologies while learning about the changing nature of transport, mobility, and road safety. More than 4,173 students participated across 141 school sessions. 99 per cent of schools rated their overall experience extremely positive, with 84 per cent saying it was extremely important and 14 per cent very important that RAC is involved and gives back to the community with programs like the RAC Imagine Program™. In September 2020, a second regional demonstration of the RAC Intellibus® took place in Geraldton and operated for three months. The Geraldton regional demonstration provided 2,070 locals and visitors the opportunity to ride on the Intellibus® and learn about AV technology. The Intellibus® travelled through 12 roundabouts along each 2.8-kilometre loop through Geraldton, a significant increase from the milestone roundabout within the Busselton Intellibus® route in 2019. It travelled 1,761.2 driverless kilometres and navigated over 7,500 roundabouts autonomously. 98 per cent of passengers rated their overall experience as positive. In partnership with the City of Greater Geraldton and the Museum of Geraldton, the inaugural regional RAC Imagine Program™ was also launched as an extension of the Intellibus® public demonstration. The Geraldton Imagine Program™ ran four days a week for four weeks, with 19 school groups comprising 448 students attending. It allowed primary schools within 100km of Geraldton to see and experience past and future technologies.
Key achievements » Won multiple awards between 2016-2018: > Australian Driverless Vehicle Initiative (Innovation): Automated Vehicle Trial, RAC Intellibus® > AIM West Business Pinnacle Awards (Innovation Award): Automated Vehicle Trial, RAC Intellibus® > Intelligent Transport Solutions (ITS) Australia Automated Vehicle Award: RAC Intellibus® > Australian Driverless Vehicle Initiative (Innovation): Automated Vehicle Trial, RAC Intellibus® > Australian College Road Safety Diamond Road Safety Award: Automated Vehicle Trial > Australian Institute of Traffic Planning and Management Excellence Awards (Best Project) > Transport Forum’s Transport Achievement Award (Special Mention) » Prepared comprehensive submission responses to National Transport Commission papers and completed community perception monitor and post ride survey reports
» The RAC Intellibus® i1 model joined an exhibition of motoring history on display at the Motor Museum of Western Australia
28,755 38,574 98%
passengers experienced driverless vehicle technology firsthand through the RAC Intellibus® trial driverless kilometres travelled on public roads in South Perth, Busselton and Geraldton think a vehicle like the Intellibus® could be used as a service in WA in the future
» The RAC Intellibus® features in the Innovations Gallery of Boorla Bardip (Western Australian Museum) » We made amendments to the South Perth trial to demonstrate how a first and last mile solution could work with passengers able to hop off and hop back on at the Old Mill » Main Roads WA approved AV related traffic management signage making it publicly available due to the success of the trialled AV-specific traffic management signage in Geraldton » To celebrate the long-running partnership, the success of the RAC Intellibus® trial and the pivotal role to make RAC’s driverless journey a reality, RAC and the City of South Perth jointly commissioned an artwork titled R/evolve created by Tony Jones Art Projects. Based on the South Perth foreshore, the R/ evolve sculpture conveys a sense of rapid movement and progress, symbolising the changing nature of transport in our growing city
The Intellibus® in the Motor Museum of Western Australia
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Volunteering at the Shire of Katanning Reconnect WA project
Our people When you work at RAC, you’re part of the driving force for a better WA. As a purpose-led organisation, our people are central to the work we do to create a safer, more sustainable and better-connected WA. We continually strive to ensure our workplace is inclusive, culturally rich and professionally rewarding.
Diversity and Inclusion Our approach to Diversity and Inclusion includes working groups which guide and progress action for Reconciliation, Enabling All Abilities, Gender Equity and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersexual, Asexual (LGBTQIA+).
Enabling All Abilities Through our Action Plan, we are working towards a vision for the future where: » We are committed to Diversity and Inclusion to create a workplace where everyone is respected, and we are able to achieve more for our members and the community. » You can be yourself – embracing Diversity and Inclusion at RAC.
RAC CoLab inclusion workshop
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» We are an organisation that is responsive and adaptive to needs both now and into the future for all people, members and the WA community. The priorities for the Enabling All Abilities Identity Resource Group this year have been:
RAC CoLab inclusion workshop
» Employability – Removing barriers to employment for people who identify as living with a disability. » Accessibility – Improving accessibility across RAC for our employees, our members and the WA community. » Advocating for inclusion (culture) – Advocating for inclusion through raising awareness and delivering education sessions for Leaders and our people regarding employment opportunities and accessibility for people who identify with any kind of disability. For a second year, we invited owners of small businesses run by people living with disability and their families to attend our pop-up Christmas marketplace events at our West Perth and Joondalup locations to sell their products and celebrate the talents of people living with disability. We presented at and participated in panel discussions at the Disability Assembly WA (DAWA) Summit in July 2022 – Employment for People with a Disability. We also participated in the May 2023 Summit – Living a Good Life in My Local Community. We host monthly DAWA Council meetings at our Koorlup Head Office.
RAC CoLab inclusion workshop
Spotlight on With, Not For With over 1.2 million members and a mission to deliver great member services and experiences, With, Not For is enabling us to create better experiences for all members and understand what people with a diverse range of identities and experiences, need and want from RAC. This includes people with disability, those who speak English as a second language, as well as anyone who identifies as part of an underrepresented group. Through this project, we’re co-creating and embedding inclusive design practices to enhance accessibility for more Western Australians across our website, branding, photography, member services and communication. We’re building on the great work that’s already been undertaken in increasing the diversity of our people and removing barriers to inclusion, such as the refurbishing of our Koorlup office. We have been working with ECU students who identify as having a disability to review a set of inclusive design principles and explore accessible careers. We’ve also worked with TAFE creative design students to reimagine our member segments with a focus on diversity. If you would like to contribute your voice to the project, and get involved in the With, Not For community, contact the RAC CoLAB team at colab@rac.com.au
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Gender Equity
Prism (LGBTQIA+)
To continue building on our Gender Equity progress and lay the strategic foundation for employee experience, talent diversification and sustainable gender equity outcomes across RAC, a 10-year Gender Equity Plan has been developed. The Plan focuses on helping us to:
We advocate, educate and celebrate our LGBTQIA+ people and actively contribute to shaping a culture that embraces diversity and inclusion.
» Build a diverse, inclusive and representative workforce that reflects the WA Community » Secure recognition as an Employer of Choice to support continued attraction of top talent » Deliver balanced composition across all leadership grades » Evidence our continuing commitment to and maturity in driving improved gender pay equity by ensuring a minimum annual reduction in the gender pay gap that matches or betters the WGEA gender pay gap average This year, our Group CEO Rob Slocombe met and interviewed with CEOs for Gender Equity, highlighting our commitment to addressing gender equity in the workplace and showcasing some of our successes to date. We continued our Gender Equity listening tours this year, reporting on findings and sharing themes and actions with our people. We expanded our annual International Women’s Day Program to align to key themes in the Equity Plan, delivering sessions including education on financial literacy, talent pipelines and showcasing the role of leadership in driving equity, and new employment pathways to shift compositional balance in traditionally male dominated industries.
This year, we updated the Equal Employment Opportunity Statement in our job adverts to include option for candidates to introduce their pronouns at the interview stage. Our people can choose to use their pronouns in meetings, communications and in some of our systems. In partnership with our LGBTQIA+ partner, Pride in Diversity, we were proud to launch our new online learning module – Foundations of LGBTQ Inclusion – to our people on International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Intersexism and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT) day. The module provides insight into common LGBTQIA+ terminology, guidance on understanding why LGBTQIA+ inclusion is important, and key actions they can undertake to drive LGBTQIA+ inclusion at RAC. We celebrated Pride far and wide across the month of November, some of the highlights included: » Our people showed their support by sporting Pride pins, lanyards, and pronoun badges » We represented RAC with a stall, alongside one of our Pride patrol vans, at Pride WA's annual PrideFEST Family Fairday with our people volunteering their time » We had RAC representation at the corporate PrideFEST Luncheon which explored the theme of Allyship » Plus, we had open and curious conversations with our lunch and learns, focused on inclusive language, policies and processes in the workplace and also in the home
Pride patrol van at the Pride WA annual PrideFEST Family Fairday
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RAC staff participating in the Walk of Reconciliation
Reconciliation at RAC The establishment of our Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) more than seven years ago commenced our formal commitment to reconciliation. It provided the opportunity for us to establish a baseline for our organisation’s understanding of cultural awareness and build the foundations for improved relationships, respect and opportunities. Launched in 2021, we are now delivering on our third RAP. This Innovate RAP will run for two years, concluding in August 2023. Our collaborative efforts are focused on cultivating mutual respect between Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and non-First Nations people, deepening our knowledge and acceptance of our shared history and encouraging positive procurement and employment objectives. This year, we partnered with Professor Len Collard from Moodjar Consultancy to undertake the Noongar naming of the RAC Head Office in West Perth, and identifying new names for additional spaces created within the building. A series of workshops were facilitated by Professor Collard where Traditional Owners and senior leaders came together to actively participate in a set of linguistic Noongar language decoding exercises to reveal and recommend a suitable set of Noongar names and associated meanings for spaces and the building.
Each year, National Reconciliation Week and NAIDOC Week are used as a period of reflection, celebration and to refocus our efforts on our ongoing commitment to reconciliation in WA. We facilitate activities designed to engage, educate and inspire a greater understanding of Aboriginal peoples, history and culture. This year for National Reconciliation Week (NRW), we encouraged our people to join the NRW Virtual Breakfast which featured a line-up of speakers and topics with an aim to shine a light on positive generational stories. We also encouraged our people to walk or volunteer at the Walk for Reconciliation at Kaarta Koomba (Kings Park), symbolising a united Australia and the respectful relations that are being driven between our First People and all other Australians through the reconciliation movement. Cultural Awareness Training continues for our leaders and people, a commitment made within our RAP and part of our reconciliation journey. The informative and interactive training, led by Danny Ford OAM and Jon Ford from Kambarang Services, is a forum to gain appreciation and awareness of Aboriginal cultures, values, beliefs, and practices in an organisational context. Our teams have also been participating in cultural walking tours and activities to support awareness and education for our people.
The name Koorlup – meaning the place of ‘coming and going’ was selected as the name for our building. In addition, the following names were developed for new spaces – Kaal (fire and home), Marr (wind), Boodjar (earth, land or country), Kep (water), Manitj (white cockatoo), Yaakin (Long Neck turtle), Kaatinup (Kings Park Area), Mandalup (Claisebrook), Wardanup (Ocean) and Beel (River or body of freshwater). Indigenous colour theories were also selected for each floor of our Koorlup building.
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RAC Community Volunteering Program This year, we refreshed our Community Volunteering Program to better align with our Vision for a safer, sustainable and more connected WA, as well as continuing to support our Diversity and Inclusion focus areas. We acknowledge and value the impact that volunteers offer to local communities and have made it easier for our people to volunteer their time and energy to meaningful causes. We've enabled better engagement and collaboration across the organisation to offer more accessible and tailored volunteering activities that suit all requirements and schedules. Our Community Volunteering Program has three volunteering streams: » In Our Community – giving back through our social and community impact programs to support our Vision » Community Ambassador Program – unique community placements and skills-based projects, offered both in-person and virtually » Team Volunteering – groups of RAC people giving back to our not-for-profit program partners
“I loved coming together with people from all over RAC and others within the community with the same drive and passion to see what we can achieve together. What a fabulous way to give back to the community!” - RAC volunteer
Community Ambassador Program Our growing portfolio of Ambassador Programs provide unique opportunities for RAC people to offer their time and skills to help build the capacity of partnering organisations and community groups. Initiatives are tailored to offer flexibility in terms of commitment and ways of working, maximising program accessibility and outcomes for the community. Through this stream, volunteers can upskill as Community Educators to deliver presentations to local community groups on topics related to road safety, lifestyle and mobility in WA. This year, 13 RAC people delivered 36 presentations to 1,160 community members.
In Our Community Hundreds of RAC people have stepped up to help bring our Social and Community Impact programs and sponsorships to life. Volunteers from across the organisation are given the opportunity to enjoy meaningful and impactful experiences with our members and local communities, while sharing important messages about road safety, cleaner and healthier air, and better-connected communities. RAC volunteers helped to activate the RAC Rescue Experience at community events across the state, providing a unique opportunity for participants to take a seat in the replica RAC Rescue helicopter and use virtual reality technology, opening their eyes to the reality of road trauma and the important role the RAC Rescue helicopters play in our state. “It was a great day to be a part off - interacting with lots of kids and adults who were watching the video about how the RAC helicopter crew save lives.” - RAC volunteer An impressive number of RAC volunteers stepped forward to work alongside community groups and local governments to deliver projects which make it more appealing to walk, ride bikes and connect with other locals. From constructing new public spaces, to transforming streets into places for people, our volunteers have worked alongside communities to create change for the better.
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“The people I have met on my Community Education talks have been the highlight. They all speak so highly of RAC and the positive impacts we have made to their lives, whether that be hearing about the old motoring club days from our senior members, to the ‘come to the rescue’ stories I heard from both a roadside breakdown or insurance perspective. RAC really has a great reach in the community and it has been really rewarding and enjoyable to have these interactions with the community.” – RAC Community Educator We launched a new Virtual Placement initiative in which RAC volunteers with professional skill sets are teamed up with not-for-profit organisations to help them advance technical projects which will build their capacity. Our pilot projects saw RAC people assisting Town Team Movement and Paraplegic Benefit Fund with marketing, communications and engagement program design and development. Community Ambassador opportunities enable our people to develop and give back by offering their professional knowledge and advice, while our partners benefit from progressing projects which been typically been too complex, onerous or costly to contemplate. We look forward to partnering with more Vision-aligned not-for-profits in future.
RAC staff volunteers on the RAC Rescue Experience
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An RAC staff member on a Jawun secondment in the East Kimberley
Our people on Country Since 2014, we have invested in connecting skilled RAC people with Jawun, a not-for-profit organisation committed to enhancing the lives of Aboriginal communities. Through our nine-year partnership, 35 RAC secondees have travelled across the state to work directly with an Aboriginal organisation over a six-week period. Whilst on secondment, our people are focused on providing impactful outcomes to support strategic goals that are self-determined by the organisation they are partnered with. Additionally, each year an RAC Executive commits to joining Jawun on a rich educational experience where they gain a deeper understanding about Aboriginal culture and opportunities to embed actions that support reconciliation into the workplace and business operations.
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This year, Peter Williams, RAC Chief Member Officer (CMO), visited the West Kimberley. Following the experience, Peter highlighted that: “We all have a responsibility to work together on Australia’s reconciliation journey. I am incredibly proud of our Jawun partnership and the impact it is making on the ground. The model is effective because it’s a two-way exchange, the communities benefit through what we bring to them, and our people benefit by bringing back new perspectives and becoming ambassadors for real change in these communities”. - Peter Williams, RAC Chief Member Officer
Team Volunteering We are dedicated to building direct relationships with Western Australian not-for-profit organisations that share our Vision for a safe, sustainable and connected future. RAC teams value the opportunity to spend time together whilst giving back in meaningful ways to organisations such as Constable Care Foundation. By providing valuable road safety knowledge and training for children aged four to 12 years, the Constable Care Safety School plays a pivotal role in teaching children important road safety skills, setting them up to be safer road users now and throughout their lives. Through our Community Volunteering Program, our people are supported to volunteer their work time to play an active role in teaching students about being safe on the road.
Some of the great causes our people are supporting In addition to our work through the Community Volunteering Program, our people are incredibly generous with their time and money to create a better WA. Some of these amazing efforts include: » Fundraising for men’s health each Movember; » Participating in Loud Shirt Day to show support for children who are deaf or hard of hearing; and » Fundraising for WA Telethon Speech & Hearing Institute, through which our people, combined with RAC’s commitment to match all donations, raised over $4,500 for the cause.
“It was a pleasure to take part and help school children become more aware about road safety. It is an important initiative for RAC volunteers to support. We are helping to make our roads safer and giving back to the WA community.” - RAC volunteer “Knowing that I helped prepare those kids to be better and safer bike riders was a great feeling.” - RAC volunteer This year, our volunteers have given their time and efforts to drive positive change in WA communities and have collectively delivered the following impact:
112 714 4,209 $ 202k
Total number of activations
Total number of volunteer participants
Total number of volunteering hours Total dollar value contributed to the WA community*
The dollar figure is calculated using the Volunteering WA value of volunteering for ‘all ages’
*
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A primary school student interacting with the RAC Air Health Monitor
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Our future We’re excited about working together with our members, our people, government, industry, and the WA community as we continue our journey towards a safer, sustainable and connected future for all Western Australians. Our road ahead Some of the things we’ll be focusing on in the shorter term include: » Continuing to build awareness and understanding of our Purpose, Vision, Mission and overall social and community impact; » Maintaining our policy and government relations activities to advocate for key policy commitments and infrastructure investments (e.g. securing the remaining funding for the Regional Road Safety Program); » Delivering impactful demonstration projects and community-focused initiatives that will help us to achieve our Vision end states and targets, like partnering with local governments to focus on safer speed trials and community activations; » Monitoring new and emerging mobility and lifestyle trends, technologies, and solutions to better understand, respond to and plan for the implications and opportunities (e.g. the shift to EVs). This includes diversifying and reshaping our member products and services, as well as considerations for our own operations;
Spotlight on the RAC Imagine Program™ Futures Challenge The RAC Imagine Program™ Futures Challenge is a new education program designed for year 5 – 6 students. The industry aligned project-based learning experience incorporates STEM and HASS subjects and will encourage students to explore and design unique and innovative solutions to the real-life challenges faced by the WA community. Launching in Term 3 2023, the term-long program features a hackathon-style excursion followed by weekly virtual masterclasses. Students will submit a project pitch video that will be reviewed and celebrated at the end of the program. The RAC Imagine Program™ Futures Challenge enables students to work in teams to create community-based initiatives that focus on how we move around. Their mission will be to enhance their local communities with innovative transportation components, aiming to create a safer, more sustainable and connected forwardthinking city.
» Facilitating opportunities that increase member codesign and involvement in our products and services, and continuing to monitor our members’ attitudes and priorities through surveys and opinion panels; and » Transforming our youth member engagement program to create a forum for young people to be empowered to design and deliver positive change in their communities.
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Community members volunteering in the Wellard 7-Day Makeover Project
RAC CoLAB / Member Volunteering Imagine a future where RAC members are actively engaged, volunteering their time and skills to 'give back’ for the better - inspiring and driving positive change in their communities and contributing towards a safer, sustainable and connected future. We are exploring ways to engage and empower our members, and break new ground by making volunteering more accessible, appealing, meaningful and rewarding. RAC’s Community Volunteering and CoLAB teams joined forces to conduct more than fifteen discovery interviews with a wide range of RAC partner organisations, volunteer-supporting organisations and other community groups.
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The teams have also completed surveys, extensive interviews and workshops with RAC members to better understand their experiences, challenges and motivations to volunteer, the importance they place on volunteering in their community and to help us explore potential opportunities for RAC to lead the way in this space. We will continue to explore the role RAC can play to encourage more volunteering and build a growing movement of change makers willing to build a safer, more sustainable and better connected future for WA. Keep an eye out for activities to get involved in or for opportunities to suggest ways we can make a difference together.
Our performance Safe
The Social Impact Metric was developed in 2018, adopted in 2019 and implemented in 2020 based on the most appropriate and current publicly available data at the time. It will be reviewed as required to ensure it remains fit for purpose, with new and richer data sources becoming available for example.
Safe
Think safer roads, vehicles and people, to save lives and serious injuries. » Western Australians feel safe utilising all modes of transport. » The rate of road deaths and serious injuries in Western Australia is approaching zero. » Western Australia has safe transport infrastructure. » New vehicle technology and safety assurance frameworks are protecting occupants and other road users from crashes. » Road users are taking responsibility for themselves and other road users. » Road safety is a social, health and economic priority for Western Australia. » Appropriate speed limits have been implemented and are increasing human survival rates in the event of a crash.
Serious injuries per 100,000 persons Actual
Our indicators, measures, weightings and targets for the safe impact area are shown in the tables and graphs below. In 2022, 1,547 people were seriously injured on our roads (equating to a serious injury rate of 54.8 per 100,000 people in the population) and 175 people were killed (equating to a fatality rate of 6.19). By the end of 2025, we want to see the serious injury rate having dropped to 30.1 and the fatality rate to 2.83.
Indicators
Measures
Weightings
Targets
Data sources
Reduced serious injuries
Serious injury rate per 100,000 persons
15%
50% reduction by end2025 from a 2020 base
Serious injuries = Main Roads WA crash data (annual); Population = ABS. Stat – Quarterly Population Estimates (ERP) – via Cat 3101.0 (quarterly)
Reduced fatalities
Fatality rate per 100,000 persons
25%
50% reduction by end2025 from a 2020 base
Fatalities = Road Safety Commission WA Road Fatalities (quarterly); Population = ABS. Stat – Quarterly Population Estimates (ERP) – via Cat 3101.0 (quarterly)
120 100 80
Target
60 40
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
Target
2011
Actual
2011
Fatalities per 100,000 persons
2010
0
2010
20
9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0
85
Sustainable by car and CO2 emissions at 265.3g/km travelled by car. By 2030, we want to see these emissions reduce to 1.06g/km and 225.8g/km respectively.
Our indicators, measures, weightings and targets for the sustainable impact area are show in the table and graphs below. Based on the most recently available data, NOx emissions currently sit at 1.27g/km travelled
Sustainable
Think low emission vehicles and initiatives for cleaner, healthier air. » Harmful emissions (CO2, NOx, particulates) from passenger vehicles are reduced in line with international benchmarks. » Proactive initiatives have been implemented to improve air quality. » Low emission vehicles are widely available, affordable and a popular choice. » Infrastructure supporting alternative vehicle technology is broadly accessible. » Western Australians better understand and are able to reduce the life-cycle impacts of owning or operating vehicles. » A range of fair and effective funding options have delivered a high-quality transport system.
NOx emissions per kilometre travelled by car (g/km) Actual Target
Indicators
Measures
Weightings
Targets
Data sources
Healthier air
NOx emissions per kilometre travelled by car
10%
15% reduction in 2030 from a 2016/17 base (but capped at 10% increase in 2025 from the base)
Fuel sales = Australian Petroleum Statistics (annual); Emission factor = European Environment Agency; VKT = BITRE Australian Infrastructure Statistics, VKT, Car, WA – direct from BITRE (annual)
Cleaner air
CO2 emissions per kilometre travelled by car
10%
20% reduction in 2030 from a 2016/17 base (3% in 2025)
CO2 emissions = Australian Greenhouse Gas Inventory (annual, data lag); VKT = BITRE Australian Infrastructure Statistics, VKT, Car, WA – direct from BITRE (annual)
1.40 1.20 1.00 0. 80 0. 60 0. 40
2025-26
2026-27
2027-28
2028-29
2029-30
2025-26
2026-27
2027-28
2028-29
2029-30
2024-25
2023-24
2022-23
2021-22
2020-21
2019-20
2018-19
2014-15 2013-14
2017-18
2013-14 2012-13
2016-17
2012-13 2011-12
2015-16
2011-12 2010-11
300 250 200
2024-25
2023-24
2022-23
2021-22
2020-21
0
2019-20
50 2018-19
Target
2017-18
100
2016-17
Actual
2015-16
150
2014-15
CO2 emissions (g/km) per kilometre travelled by car
2010-11
0
2009-10
0.20
*These targets were modelled using the most recent data at the time for both indicators (i.e. 2016-17), and consider, amongst other things, annual variability and upwards trends (CO2 emissions from cars are projected to increase to 2025), Australian Government greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets and the need for significant national policy levers to achieve reductions.
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Connected Our current Connected Communities Score is 62.4. By 2030, we’re aiming for at least a 5% increase in the calculated score for how connected people feel to and within their community from a 2020 baseline of 62.5.
Our indicators, measures, weightings and targets for the connected impact area are shown in the table and graphs below and on the next page. For our first of four connected measures, the most recently available data shows a decrease in vehicle kilometres travelled (VKT) per capita from 6,929 in 2020-21 to 6,764 in 2021-22. By 2030, we want to see a 5 per cent decline from the baseline.
Our third and fourth measures relate to transport affordability. Throughout the next ten years, we want any increases in costs of motoring and public transport to remain at or below the rate of inflation, known as the Consumer Price Index (CPI). In 2022, the cost of motoring increased at a rate similar to overall CPI. Public transport fares increased by 2% in 2022 - fare increases were withheld in 2020 and 2021 due to COVID-19.
Our second measure, the extent to which people feel connected to and within their community, is a composite measure derived from survey questions we ask about community connectedness.
Weightings
Targets
Data sources
Enhanced liveability
Vehicle kilometres travelled (VKT) per capita
10%
5% reduction in 2030 from a 2018 base (0.43% annually)
VKT = Australian Infrastructure Statistics, VKT, Car, WA – direct from BITRE (annual); Population = ABS Demographic Stats – Cat 3101.0 (quarterly)
Extent to which people feel connected to and within their community
10%
5% increase in connectedness score from a 2020 baseline
RAC survey providing a composite measure derived from questions exploring the relative importance of, and level of satisfaction with, four dimensions of community connectedness – access to destinations, availability of preferred transport options, sense of community and look and feel of the area (monthly)
Cost of private motoring
10%
Change at or below CPI
Cost of private motoring = ABS Consumer Price Index, Australia Cat 6401.0 – Table 9 (quarterly); CPI = ABS Consumer Price Index, Australian Cat 6401.0 – Tables 1 & 2 (quarterly)
Cost of public transport
10%
Change at or below CPI
Public transport standard 2-zone cash fare = State Budget Paper no.3, Appendix 8, Table 8.10 (annual); CPI = ABS Consumer Price Index, Australia Cat 6401.0 – Tables 1 & 2 (quarterly)
2021-22
2024-25
Vehicle kilometres travelled (VKT) per capita
Measures
2018-19
» Good urban design and wellplanned communities are enabling better access to transport options and enhanced social connectedness. » People are seamlessly connected by a flexible range of private, public and shared transport options (e.g. public transport, cycling, walking, car, motorcycling, personal transporters, aviation), infrastructure, services and technology. » Congestion has been managed to protect the livability and productivity of the State. » The benefits of digitisation are realised and enhance mobility while protecting personal privacy and data. » Transport is affordable and accessible.
Indicators
2015-16
Connected
Think well-planned communities and transport that connect people and places
Affordable mobility
8000 7000 6000 5000
Actual
4000
Target
3000 2000
2029-30
2028-29
2027-28
2026-27
2025-26
2023-24
2022-23
2020-21
2019-20
2017-18
2016-17
2014-15
2013-14
2012-13
2011-12
2010-11
0
2009-10
1000
*This target was modelled and adopted prior to COVID-19 and the resulting impact of lockdowns on mobility (e.g. VKT in 2019-20).
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Extent to which people feel connected to and within their community
80 70 60
Survey results
50
Target
40 30 20
2029 2026
2030
2028 2025
2026
2025
2023
2022
2021
2027
% change in CPI
2024
12%
2025
Private motoring component CPI
2023
16%
2024
Change in cost of motoring
2020
0
2024
10
14%
10% 8% 6% 4% 2% 0% -2%
2029
2030 2030
2028
2029
2027
2022
2021
2018 2020
2020
2017 2019
2019
2016 2018
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011 2014
Change in cost of public transport
2010
-6%
2013
-4%
8% 6% 5%
Change in Transperth standard 2-zone cash fare
4%
% change in CPI
2%
3%
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2028
2027
2026
2023
2022
2021
2017
2016
0%
2015
1%
Overall progress towards our 2030 targets Our composite metric, derived from the above elements, shows that we are currently tracking at ‘Meeting target – low’. Which means we are within range of where we need to be for this reporting period to continue to make progress towards where we want to be in 2030.
Our Social and Community Impact Report and Social Impact Metric enable us to measure and report on our progress towards our Vision. We remain committed to developing and expanding how we report on our impact in the years ahead.
Progress towards 2030 targets:
Target ranges Not meeting target - high Not meeting target - moderate Not meeting target - low Meeting target - low Meeting target - moderate Meeting target - high
For more information on where we stand on issues of importance to creating a safer, sustainable and connected future for Western Australians, visit: https://rac.com.au/about-rac/advocating-change/reports
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End notes 1.
Data generated using HealthTracks Reporting, by the Epidemiology Branch, WA Department of Health in collaboration with the Cooperative Research Centre for Spatial Information (CRC-SI), March 2021. Accessed at: https://ww2.health.wa.gov.au/Articles/N_R/Population-health-statistics
2. Calculation based on data provided by Main Roads Western Australia. (2022). 3. Australian Bureau of Statistics (2023) Regional population. Accessed at: https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/people/ population/regional-population/latest-release 4. Main Roads WA (2022) Low Cost Urban Road Safety Program – Framework. Accessed at: https://www.mainroads. wa.gov.au/globalassets/technical-commercial/local-government-funding/road-safety-programs/low-cost-urban-roadsafety-program-strategy-and-implementation-framework.pdf?v=498fab 5. WA Government (2020). Driving Change: Road Safety Strategy for Western Australia 2020-2030. Accessed at: https://www.wa.gov.au/organisation/road-safety-commission/driving-change-road-safety-strategy-and-action-plan 6. Palamara, P., Kaura, K., et al. (2013). An investigation of serious injury motor vehicle crashes across metropolitan, regional and remote Western Australia. Accessed at: https://www.wa.gov.au/government/publications/investigationof-serious-injury-motor-vehicle-crashes-across-metropolitan-regional-and-remote-western-australia-2013 7.
Goodsell, R., & Roberts, P. (2019). Development of a Regional and Remote Road Safety Action Plan for WA 20182020
8. European Commission. (2019). Safe and Credible Speeds. Accessed at: https://road-safety.transport.ec.europa.eu/ system/files/2021-07/road_safety_thematic_report_speeding.pdf 9. International Transport Forum. (2018). Speed and Crash Risk. Paris. Accessed at: https://www.itf-oecd.org/speedcrash-risk 10. Haworth, N., Yasmin, S., Schramm, A., & Somoray, K. (2022). Options to accelerate the reduction of people killed and seriously injured on roads in Western Australia. Centre for Accident Research and Road Safety – Queensland (CARRS-Q) 11. Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (2023). Australia’s National Greenhouse Accounts. Accessed at: https://ageis.climatechange.gov.au/ 12. OECD Data (2023). Air and GHG emissions. Accessed at: https://data.oecd.org/air/air-and-ghg-emissions. htm#indicator-chart 13. Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (2023). Australia’s National Greenhouse Accounts. Accessed at: https://ageis.climatechange.gov.au/ 14. OECD Data (2023). Air and GHG emissions. Accessed at: https://data.oecd.org/air/air-and-ghg-emissions. htm#indicator-chart 15. Stratas Advisers (2023). Six Countries Move Up in Top 100 Ranking on Gasoline Sulfur Limits. Accessed at: https:// www.stratasadvisors.com/insights/six-countries-move-up-in-top-100-ranking-on-gasoline-sulfur-limits/2023-0622t010102-0400 16. Includes passenger, SUV and light commercial vehicles. 17. Includes electric, hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles. 18. Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (2023). VFACTs WA Report – New Vehicle Sales May 2023 (subscription). 19. Data provided by Department of Transport Western Australia (2023) 20. Includes battery electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles. 21. Department of Health (WA) (2021), Air pollution and health. Accessed at: https://www.healthywa.wa.gov.au/Articles/ A_E/Air-pollution-and-health 22. NSW Environmental protection agency (2019), About air pollution. Accessed at: https://www.epa.nsw.gov.au/yourenvironment/air/air-nsw-overview/about-air-pollution 23. Department of Health (NSW) (2013), Who is affected by air pollution? Accessed at: https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/ environment/air/Pages/who-is-affected.aspx 24. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (2023), AR6 Synthesis Report of the IPCC Sixth Assessment Report (AR6). Accessed at: https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/syr/downloads/report/IPCC_AR6_SYR_SPM.pdf 25. University corporation for atmospheric research (2021), Air Quality and Climate Change. Accessed at: https://scied. ucar.edu/learning-zone/air-quality/air-quality-and-climate-change 26. Better Health (VIC) (2022), Air pollution. Accessed at: https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/airpollution
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27. Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (2021), Air Pollutants. Accessed at: https://www. dcceew.gov.au/environment/protection/air-quality/air-pollutants. 'Criteria air pollutants' is a term used internationally to describe air pollutants that have been regulated and are used as indicators of air quality. The regulations or standards are based on criteria that relate to health and/or environmental effects. 28. University of Melbourne (Melbourne Climate Futures) (2023), Health Impacts Associated With Traffic Emissions In Australia. Accessed at: https://www.unimelb.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/4498161/Expert-Position-Statement_ Vehicle-emissions_FINAL.pdf 29. Department of Climate Change. Energy, the Environment and Water (2023) Australian Energy Statistics, Table O Electricity generation by fuel type 2021-22 and 2022. Accessed at: https://www.energy.gov.au/publications/ australian-energy-statistics-table-o-electricity-generation-fuel-type-2021-22-and-2022 30. Data accessed via http://data.wa.aemo.com.au/ 31. AAA (2023) Transport Affordability Index – Q2 2023. Accessed at: https://data.aaa.asn.au/transport-affordability 32. ABS (2022) Consumer Price Index, Australia – Transport component of CPI for Perth June 2022. Accessed at: https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/economy/price-indexes-and-inflation/consumer-price-index-australia/latest-release 33. RAC analysis of registration fees in WA based on previous State Budget papers, assuming a sedan with tare weight of 1,600kg. The analysis excludes motor Injury Insurance, recording and driver’s licence fees. 34. Infrastructure Australia (2019) Urban Transport Crowding and Congestion. Accessed at: https://www. infrastructureaustralia.gov.au/publications/urban-transport-crowding-and-congestion 35. Infrastructure Australia (2022) Perth Active Transport Improvements. Accessed at: https://www. infrastructureaustralia.gov.au/map/perth-active-transport-improvements 36. Based on average values for journey to work for Victorian Integrated Survey of Transport and Activity (VISTA) participants. Accessed at: https://transport.vic.gov.au/about/data-and-research/vista 37. As defined by Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage in SPP 4.2 Activity centres for Perth and Peel (2010) as community focal points that include activities such as commercial, retail, higher density housing, entertainment, tourism, civic/community, higher education, and medical services. Accessed at: https://www.wa.gov.au/government/ publications/state-planning-policy-42-activity-centres-perth-and-peel 38. RAC (2016) Transport Accessibility of Perth's Activity Centres. Accessed at: https://rac.com.au/about-rac/advocatingchange/reports 39. RAC (2022) RAC Member Priorities Tracker: Cycling. Reports available at: https://rac.com.au/about-rac/advocatingchange/reports/member-priorities-tracker 40. As identified in the Department of Transport’s Long-term Cycle Network for Perth and Peel, as well as several regional cycle strategies. Note: while titled the ‘cycle‘ network it is accepted this network will service other active transport modes, including walking, eRideables, etc. Accessed at: https://www.transport.wa.gov.au/activetransport/ long-term-cycle-network.asp 41. RAC (2018) Shared Path Lighting Review. Accessed at: https://rac.com.au/about-rac/advocating-change/reports 42. Data provided by Department of Transport Western Australia (2023) State Planning Policy 4.2 Activity Centres (SPP 4.2) Accessed at: https://www.wa.gov.au/government/publications/state-planning-policy-42-activity-centres 43. Western Australian Local Government Association (2022) Report on Local Government Road Assets & Expenditure 2020-2021. Accessed at: https://walga.asn.au/policy-advice-and-advocacy/infrastructure/roads/report-on-localgovernment-road-assets-and-expendi.aspx 44. Road Safety Commission, WA Road Fatalities 2022 45. Ford D, Mills B, Ciccone N, Beatty S. Does Direct Helicopter Retrieval Improve Survival of Severely Injured Trauma Patients From Rural Western Australia. Air Medical Journal 39 (2020) 183-188.
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