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Stephen Jiggins started work in the former Office of Road Safety in Canberra more than 35 years ago and has maintained his interest and work in the field ever since.
Having been instrumental in establishing road safety education programs in Canberra and New Zealand, Dr Jiggins was awarded a Churchill Fellowship in 2008, which he used to examine attitudes towards road safety internationally.
“My plea is to stop thinking about road trauma as 'accidents' … there is no such thing,” he said. “Crashes just don't happen; speed, driving under the influence of alcohol or other drugs and fatigue are the factors that lead to the majority of crashes.
“Road users need to take responsibility for their actions.”
Dr Jiggins' work as an advocate for improved road safety has seen him appointed a Member of the Order of Australia, something he said was recognition for the team of people responsible for the positive advances.
“Road crash rates in Australia have dropped dramatically since the 1970s through careful adoption of measures like seat-belts, helmets, random breath testing and speed reduction. All generated adverse community reaction at the time, but we now see the benefits," he said.