Latest news with #PaulRoberts
Yahoo
04-07-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
New calls for major road rule change as more Aussie cities reduce urban speed limits
It's increasingly being put forward by road safety experts as a method to reduce the country's growing road toll, and now, there's a fresh push in the country's west to reduce speed limits in urban centres to just 30 kilometres per hour. Numerous councils across the country have recently made the switch, or have considered it, with data showing the risk of serious injuries and death drastically reduces in collisions with vehicles travelling at slower speeds. Though the idea is not always welcomed by the public, governments have argued the move improves safety and also helps to pedestrianise congested areas. Reducing speeds may make roads feel safer and more pleasant, encouraging walking and cycling. Overseas, cities in the UK, Spain, Germany, and parts of Canada and New Zealand have adopted 30 km/h zones with good results. On home soil, in certain areas of Sydney, Brisbane, and Melbourne, 30km/h limits have already been rolled out. Now, in Perth, the Western Australian Centre for Road Safety Research (WACRSR) deputy director Paul Roberts is calling for the limit to be implemented in all urban areas in the state. Roberts said a 30km/h limit is the gold standard. "In any area where there is high volume or where cars and pedestrians, and other vulnerable road users mix, we have to have lower speed limits," he told the ABC this week. "It's not about whether it's a metropolitan or regional area. The issue is where vulnerable road users and cars are mixing. If we take it down to 30 kilometres an hour, which is the gold standard for pedestrian areas around the world, the survival rate, instead of being 10 per cent, is 90 per cent. "Forty is way better than 60, but not as good as 30." The director of the Western Australian Centre for Road Safety Research, Teresa Senserrick, strongly agrees. She recently told Yahoo that Australians need to rethink how they view road safety in general. "Going back again to the 1970s and 1980s, people did not generally believe that having several drinks and driving was risky," she said. "We did not change people's attitudes before the big booze bus programs came on board, once the random breath testing program started, and the results were taking hold over time. That has now changed; people do agree that drinking too much is risky to drink and drive. We need to do the same approach with speed." In Perth, the Geraldton, Bunbury and Subiaco councils have already implemented lower speed limits. Several other local government areas have also recently looked at changes, contemplating reductions to 40 or 30 kilometres an hour in certain zones. Push to reduce speed limits to 30km/h for millions Millions of drivers face major road rule change Aussie town makes major speed limit change in growing trend Road Safety Minister Reece Whitby said lowering limits in urban areas was a conversation for local communities and councils. "I welcome that discussion ... it's a good thing," he said. "We know there are 40 km/h limits outside schools during drop-off and pick-up times, and that makes sense." Earlier this week, Whitby unleashed on drivers in the state for their irresponsible behaviour behind the wheel over the last six months, during a trial phase of the state's new roadside AI-cameras. It was revealed at a Budget Estimates hearing on Tuesday that the cameras had captured a mind-blowing 130,000 offences, with nearly 50,000 caution letters issued to those in breach of the road rules since the cameras were rolled out in trial mode on January 26. That equates to more than 800 offences and 280 letters per day, with more than 25 million vehicles passing through cameras. "There are people in the community who just blatantly ignore the law. When these safety cameras start issuing fines, we're going to see a huge number of people, if they don't change their ways, losing their licence," he said. "If this continues at the rate we've seen, we are going to see revenue roll in like we've never seen it before, and I'll be gladly spending it on more safety measures." Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
ABC News
02-07-2025
- Automotive
- ABC News
Road safety expert suggests reduced urban speed limit to keep people safe
A road safety expert has called for the speed limit in all urban areas in Western Australia to be reduced to 30 kilometres per hour, calling it the only sure-fire way to protect vulnerable road users. While often proving controversial with the public, multiple local governments across Perth and regional WA have moved to the lower limit in busy areas such as shopping and cafe strips. Western Australian Centre for Road Safety Research deputy director Paul Roberts said dropping the speed limit was the only way to keep people safe. "In any area where there is high volume or where cars and pedestrians and other vulnerable road users mix, we have to have lower speed limits," he said. "It's not about whether it's a metropolitan or regional area. Geraldton, Bunbury and Subiaco have already implemented lower speed limits. Subiaco Mayor David McMullen said the benefits of the decision were clear. "Speed limits on Rokeby Road were reduced to 30kph in 2021, which has resulted in an almost 50 per cent reduction in reported accidents," he said. The City of Subiaco is also one of five inner-city councils that plan to expand 40kph residential areas, along with the cities of Perth, South Perth, Vincent and Victoria Park. Together, they form the Perth Inner City Group. "Following a review of community feedback, and a technical review of the proposed area-wide speed zones, the Perth Inner City Group will submit the 40kph proposal to Main Roads WA and the Road Safety Commission for consideration," Mr McMullen said. "In the City of Subiaco, only local residential streets would have the reduction in speed limits. "This means minimal to no appreciable impact on transit times in many cases because it's not long before drivers get back onto bigger distributor roads." Associate Professor Roberts said a pedestrian only had a 10 per cent chance of survival if they were struck at 60kph. "If we take it down to 30 kilometres an hour, which is the gold standard for pedestrian areas around the world, the survival rate, instead of being 10 per cent, is 90 per cent," he said. Local governments in regional areas such as Albany are also taking action on urban speed. Earlier this year, the City of Albany expanded 40kph zones to encompass areas with high pedestrian activity, including two children's crossings on Lockyer Avenue and Middleton Road. Great Southern Traffic Unit officer in charge Derek Grimes said it was a good move for safety. "When you look down York Street, it's pretty hard to do more than 40kph when it's busy anyway, just with traffic congestion," Senior Sergeant Grimes said. "But on the surrounding roads, for example Aberdeen Street and some of the other ones, there has been a remarkable decrease in speed, which is good. "Getting hit by a car even at 40 can cause serious injury, let alone 50, so it's certainly a move in the right direction for safety." Road Safety Minister Reece Whitby said lowering urban speed limits was a discussion for local governments and communities. "I welcome that discussion, and if we can have common-sense approaches that increase community safety it's a good thing," he said. "We know there are 40kph limits outside schools during drop-off and pick-up times, and that makes sense, that's common sense. "I think there could be other parts of suburbs and towns where it makes sense to have that lower speed limit."
The Guardian
26-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Quadrophenia: A Mod Ballet review – a razor-sharp reboot of the Who's rock opera
The Quadrophenia era might be 60 years old, but some things about being young haven't changed. Jimmy, the protagonist of the Who's classic album – later a film, now a ballet – brims with awkwardness and scrappy bravado. His hunger for life and his desperation to be someone are viscerally felt when the fantasy of adult life rubs up against the sometimes grubby reality. Should a ballet version of the Who's 1973 album work? Well it turns out that it does. Pete Townshend might be the man behind the Who's sound, but it's his wife, composer and orchestrator Rachel Fuller, who is in large part responsible for this. She originally orchestrated the album for the Classic Quadrophenia project a decade ago, and that's the backdrop for this show, minus vocals. The music is majestic, especially the recurring riff from Love, Reign O'er Me that does sterling dramatic work each time it appears and builds to an almighty climax as Jimmy faces crisis after the famous mods and rockers clash on Brighton beach. This is not a classical ballet, but a dance piece drawing on a number of styles, choreographed by Paul Roberts and directed by Rob Ashford. Roberts is best known from the pop world (Spice Girls, Harry Styles), Ashford from musicals, and they bring a snappy pace to the storytelling, especially in the first act, the narrative based on Townshend's original liner notes. Paris Fitzpatrick is perfectly cast as disaffected Jimmy, full of tetchy energy, and the four facets of Jimmy's personality (the 'quad' of the title) are represented by different dancers: the swooning Romantic and feral Lunatic, along with the Hypocrite and the Tough Guy, although that's a device perhaps underused. Jimmy's apparently uninterested parents are mired in their own troubles and the most poignant choreography comes in an early duet for the couple. Before they even dance, you can sense their dissatisfaction, reluctance and antipathy (in Kate Tydman's Mother especially), but slowly their defences melt into a tender ballroom hold. The best dancing, however, belongs to the mods in the club scene, all jagged shoulders and jutting chins, moves so sharp they sting like a paper cut. Royal Ballet principal Matthew Ball is parachuted in for a cameo as an arrogant rock star dressed in Paul Smith union jack jacket. Circling the stage with his tours en l'air and pirouettes, he's got the swagger but it's all too clean. The following scene though, where Ball sneers at Jimmy and his friends hankering for autographs, is painfully effective. This is a story about false idols (such as king of the mods Ace Face, who turns out to be a lowly hotel bellboy) and it's about the desperation to belong. That's mirrored across the generations when Jimmy's alcoholic dad remembers his wartime service, not only the tragedy but the lost sense of purpose and camaraderie. Smart decisions have been made about the minimal set (by Christopher Oram) and the excellent projections by YeastCulture that make a huge difference to the sense of realism: the condensation on a cafe window, the waves on Brighton seafront. All the pieces fall into place in an engrossing show that has style and substance, grit and grace. It looks like Quadrophenia is a hit once again. At Sadler's Wells, London, until 13 July. Then at the Lowry, Salford, 15-19 July
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Paul Roberts Joins Alliant Insurance Services' Employee Benefits Team in Boston
Veteran consultant to deploy expertise in employee benefits, risk management, and retirement consulting to service a diverse national client base IRVINE, Calif., May 12, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Paul Roberts has joined Alliant Insurance Services as Senior Vice President within its Employee Benefits Group. Based in Boston, the veteran consultant will deploy his breadth of expertise in employee benefits, risk management, and retirement consulting to service a diverse national client base. "Paul understands the intersection of health, wealth, and risk, and brings deep insight to every engagement. His ability to bring people together, solve complex problems, and deliver tailored solutions makes him a powerful asset to our clients," said Kevin Overbey, President, Alliant Employee Benefits. A strategic advisor known for building networks, Roberts works closely with employers to design and implement strategic employee benefit strategies aligned with business goals. His areas of focus include health and wealth, self-funding and alternative funding strategies, pharmacy benefit optimization, population health management, and wellness programming. Prior to joining Alliant, Roberts served as Senior Vice President in the Boston office of a global insurance and employee benefits consulting firm. He is also the founder of Boston's largest HR group. Roberts earned a bachelor's degree in English and business from Tufts University and holds Series 6 and 63 securities licenses, in addition to Life & Health and Property & Casualty insurance licenses. About Alliant Insurance Services Alliant Insurance Services marks a century of success as the nation's leading specialty broker. We operate through a network of specialized national platforms and local offices to offer our clients a comprehensive portfolio of risk solutions built on innovative thinking and personal service. The business of managing risk is complex, and Alliant meets this complexity head-on with creativity and agility. Alliant has changed the way our clients approach risk management and benefits, giving them complete access to our resources and expertise—regardless of where the resource is located—to capitalize on new opportunities to grow and protect their organizations and their people. Alliant is recognized as a leading destination for top-tier brokerage talent in the U.S., attracting brokers and specialists across a diverse spectrum of disciplines who are eager to advance their careers. With the advantage of being majority employee-owned, professionals choose Alliant for autonomy, unparalleled resources, and a unique equity ownership opportunity. As a testament to our commitment to excellence, Alliant maintains an impressive 99% producer retention rate and has earned Forbes' prestigious title of one of America's Best Large Employers. Visit us at View source version on Contacts Nick KopingaFirst Vice PresidentCorporate Marketing and Communications(949) 260-5004nkopinga@ Error while retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error while retrieving data
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Paul Roberts Joins Alliant Insurance Services' Employee Benefits Team in Boston
Veteran consultant to deploy expertise in employee benefits, risk management, and retirement consulting to service a diverse national client base IRVINE, Calif., May 12, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Paul Roberts has joined Alliant Insurance Services as Senior Vice President within its Employee Benefits Group. Based in Boston, the veteran consultant will deploy his breadth of expertise in employee benefits, risk management, and retirement consulting to service a diverse national client base. "Paul understands the intersection of health, wealth, and risk, and brings deep insight to every engagement. His ability to bring people together, solve complex problems, and deliver tailored solutions makes him a powerful asset to our clients," said Kevin Overbey, President, Alliant Employee Benefits. A strategic advisor known for building networks, Roberts works closely with employers to design and implement strategic employee benefit strategies aligned with business goals. His areas of focus include health and wealth, self-funding and alternative funding strategies, pharmacy benefit optimization, population health management, and wellness programming. Prior to joining Alliant, Roberts served as Senior Vice President in the Boston office of a global insurance and employee benefits consulting firm. He is also the founder of Boston's largest HR group. Roberts earned a bachelor's degree in English and business from Tufts University and holds Series 6 and 63 securities licenses, in addition to Life & Health and Property & Casualty insurance licenses. About Alliant Insurance Services Alliant Insurance Services marks a century of success as the nation's leading specialty broker. We operate through a network of specialized national platforms and local offices to offer our clients a comprehensive portfolio of risk solutions built on innovative thinking and personal service. The business of managing risk is complex, and Alliant meets this complexity head-on with creativity and agility. Alliant has changed the way our clients approach risk management and benefits, giving them complete access to our resources and expertise—regardless of where the resource is located—to capitalize on new opportunities to grow and protect their organizations and their people. Alliant is recognized as a leading destination for top-tier brokerage talent in the U.S., attracting brokers and specialists across a diverse spectrum of disciplines who are eager to advance their careers. With the advantage of being majority employee-owned, professionals choose Alliant for autonomy, unparalleled resources, and a unique equity ownership opportunity. As a testament to our commitment to excellence, Alliant maintains an impressive 99% producer retention rate and has earned Forbes' prestigious title of one of America's Best Large Employers. Visit us at View source version on Contacts Nick KopingaFirst Vice PresidentCorporate Marketing and Communications(949) 260-5004nkopinga@
